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Can't get "NET USE" to work on shared printers

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7 replies

by paul.eggers

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I am running a DOS app on a stand-alone WinXP PC. In order for the DOS app to see a shared printer, I have to "capture" it (back in the Win98 days) or use the "net use" command: net use lpt3 \\[servername]\[printersharename]
This works on every machine I have ever tried it on except for this one PC. It tells me that 'net' is not a proper command.
Any ideas?

7 replies

by dumphrey

And what privilege are you trying to run it under?

by paul.eggers

It does have SP 2 installed, but she doesn't sign in. It's a stand-alone so it just boots right up into Windows.

by dumphrey

it has no network connection attached or just that its not part of a work group domain?
On XP net use fails if there is nothing plugged into the lan port or the wireless is not connected.
See the second post Peco put up on MS virtual loopback adapters. I assume she is logging in as admin, or you are opening an admin window to do net use?

by paul.eggers

So I assume she has a network connection to a router which provides her internet. I will have to ask about that setup. And I'm going to try the loopback adapter as suggested by Peco.
She does not log in to the PC... it boots right into Windows. Not sure what you mean about opening an Admin window.

by dumphrey

does her account have administrator privileges? Or is it a plain, vanilla account? Sometimes net use does not work correctly with lesser privileges. And is this XP Pro or XP Home?

What happens if on the XP machine in question,
you use the command "net view \\(MachineName)"?
You should see a list of available shares.

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