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WS2008: view computer description at network level a la WS 2003 and earlier

From Windows 95 to Windows Server 2003, you could see all the computers in your domain either by opening Network Neighborhood or, more recently, you'd go to Run, type in the name of a server, click OK, then go Up one level to see your network. Then, you could drag a shortcut to this location to the desktop. I used this to see who sat at what computer because whenever I set up a new computer, I'd put that person's name in the Description field of that computer's System Properties.

Windows Server 2008, Vista and Windows 7, that location has a name, and it's called Network. I'm OK with that. My problem is that Network no longer shows Computer Description as a column, so now there is no way to see who sits at what computer.

I don't name computers in a domain with the user's name, I name them DESKTOP0x, for reasons that I hope are obvious.

So, where can I view the computer description field at the network level a la WS 2003 and earlier in Windows Server 2008?

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tenaj-207

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nathanwc

ASKER

Sounds like a dumb feature to remove, but thanks for the reply.

TMWSIY

This feature has not really been removed; there is just not a view/shortcut to access it on 7. But if you still have a XP machine on the network you can create a shortcut to the view that contains the computer description and then copy the shortcut to your vista, 2008 or 7 machine and it works great! My guys here at work use it all the time since we have username and service tag in the computer description. It's a very helpful feature and I'm disappointed MS did not re-enable this in 7.