net use

[roger_bj]

i have a laptop with no cdrom and so i have created a bootable floppy which gives access to my lan - i can ping the other pc's but net use \\192.168.0.1\sharename returns "unable to find this computer name" even tho I have enabled netbios over TCP/IP

[Jerome Henry]

You need something to convert IP address to netbios name.

Try do do net use \\computer_netbios_name\sharename to check if your netbios functions correctly.

Then it depends on your OS, is it windows 98 ? 95 ? 2k ? server, pro ? I suppose it's not XP.

Do you have a server on the LAN ? Do you open your session to a windwos domain ?

Run nbtstat -c to see what list is contained into your local netbios cache.

Do you have a lmhost or hosts file ? Does it contain references ?

You can partially solve your problem on adding in thse file 192.168.0.1 computername, you'll be able to use IP on Netbios instead of netbios name, but best would be to find why there is no master browser doing it for you on your network.

J

[roger_bj]

thanks for your prompt reply but I am still confused - i am trying to map to the ip address so the netbios name should not be needed - the laptop boot disk is 98 based and the share is on a fat partition on a W2K pc

[Jerome Henry]

Well, net use is netbeui command, so it needs netbios name to operate. If you use IP instead, then you need something on your network to convert this IP to a netbios name that your net use command will use to access.

Ticking use netbios over tcp ip allow you to do the contrary (use netbios names that are solved into IP address to access remote machines by ping manchinename for example).

This 'something' is called a master browser, it can be any machine on your network, usually it's the latest OS version that gets the MB (here your 2k).

So your w98 must know where to ask to get this IP / to Netbios conversion. In you 2k box, check on network properties, TCP/IP, advanced, Wins, that 'activate lmhost search' is checked, and of course 'use netbios with tcp/IP'.

On your w98, it's checked by default and not removable. But where will it get MB from ? It depends on your network configuration, do you run dhcp, do you connect to m$ domain or is your machine autonomous on login. If so, your w98 depends on itself, so you must add these addresses and name correspondances in your lmhosts and host files...

J

[roger_bj]

the laptop is not running 98 but the network bootdisk reports as 98 - my lan has 2 pc's one as W2K server acting as the dc running active directory and dns (but no dhcp)and the other pc running W2K Prof - I want to be able to rebuild the laptop from a network share - the bootfloppy prompts for NIC, DHCP (no), Default Gateway (no); Subnet mask (255.255.255.0); ip address (192.168.0.10 - dc is 192.168.0.128 and w2k w/s is 192.168.0.1); computer name (Dell); username (administrator); domain (rdomain.com); dns (yes); dns server (192.168.0.128) and finally prompts for password for administrator account

i can then ping both pc's from the laptop by ip address but not by name - from what you have said so far this seems to be the problem - both pc's have netbios over tcp/ip and enable lmhosts lookup enabled - do i need to make the dc a wins server?

[Martin Simnett]

You cant use net use with ip addresses. You must use a netbios name.

[roger_bj]

i can now map to \\computername\sharename which i couldnt do previously so I assume the enable netbios over tcpip and enable lmhosts were the correct fixes - i was assuming that because i couldnt ping computername that this would not work

many thanks to both respondents - how do I score their responses

[Jerome Henry]

Hi,

As for wins server, this server is needed only if your network is routed, that is if there is a router between your client computer and the server you want to access.

If all computers are on the same segment, then a wins server is not needed.

From what I understand, it seems more likely that your boot floppy just didn't install Netbeui protocol, and installed TCP/IP alone.

Which means that you can ping IP, but not netbios name, nor use any net * family command...

Win 2k has a process to creat boot disks and let install start on a client computer, but you definetely need to set up DHCP to use it. Is your boot disk made to use netbios ?

J

[Martin Simnett]

There should be drop down boxes by the names of people who have replied. You can score them there. You have to be logged in.

Cheers

M

[Jerome Henry]

Hi,

I was posting at the time you were !

From your reply I correct my last post. Your floppies were netbeui compatible.

Checking netbios over tcp/ip implies to wait that update is conducted by the master browser over the network, which may take 10 minutes per machine. Checking the box implies to wait... unitl you box admits the new rule !

Glad it works !

You can assign points on selecting a number in the box on to each reply, and the click submit.

Thanks. :]]

J