net send doesn't work

  • Thread starter Thread starter gb
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gb

I am trying to figure out how I can send simple messages to users on my home
network. Just to tell people dinner's ready or whatever. I have tried a
few freeware programs, but they only work if the user opens the application
first ( I guess I could put it in the start directory of every computer on
the network but then, if they close the application, they're gone. I'd
rather use something that's built into windows and works all the time.).
Some of the applications I've tried say that even if they're not using the
application, they can be contacted with the Net Send function built in.

The problem I'm having is... the Net Send fuction isn't working. I've tried
it from within the application, and just going to a DOS prompt and sending a
message to another user. I've tried using their IP address and also their
computer name but the message never gets there.

I looked in the HELP section of windows and it says that Net Send only works
if Messenger is running. So I went to try to activate Messenger and it's
making me get a .NET account and tell them my email address and all. I'm
just trying to communicate with other users on my home LAN intranet, I don't
want a .NET account.

Is there something I'm missing, something I can check? Any idea why Net
Send isn't working?

System info:

some computers are W2000, some are XP
some are on wireless, some are on ethernet
i can use "my computer" to find the other computers and I can share files
and printers, but I can't use Net Send.

it seems like this is a pretty simple thing i'm trying to do, but I guess
not.

any help is appreciated!
 
Wrong messenger. You don't need MSN or Windows Messenger for NET SEND, what
you need is the "Messenger service" running.
 
I am trying to figure out how I can send simple messages to users on my home
network. Just to tell people dinner's ready or whatever. I have tried a
few freeware programs, but they only work if the user opens the application
first ( I guess I could put it in the start directory of every computer on
the network but then, if they close the application, they're gone. I'd
rather use something that's built into windows and works all the time.).
Some of the applications I've tried say that even if they're not using the
application, they can be contacted with the Net Send function built in.

The problem I'm having is... the Net Send fuction isn't working. I've tried
it from within the application, and just going to a DOS prompt and sending a
message to another user. I've tried using their IP address and also their
computer name but the message never gets there.

I looked in the HELP section of windows and it says that Net Send only works
if Messenger is running. So I went to try to activate Messenger and it's
making me get a .NET account and tell them my email address and all. I'm
just trying to communicate with other users on my home LAN intranet, I don't
want a .NET account.

Is there something I'm missing, something I can check? Any idea why Net
Send isn't working?

System info:

some computers are W2000, some are XP
some are on wireless, some are on ethernet
i can use "my computer" to find the other computers and I can share files
and printers, but I can't use Net Send.

it seems like this is a pretty simple thing i'm trying to do, but I guess
not.

any help is appreciated!
Click to expand...

You're confusing the Windows Messenger "chat" application with the Windows
Messenger Service. Common mistake.

You can disable the former (a nuisance app if there ever was one) with a bit
o' Registry magic, without affecting the viability of Net Send. If you want to
use Net Send, you need the (latter) Messenger Service (among other services
such as Workstation) running on any node you want to issue or receive
alerts.The Messenger Service can be found as "Messenger" in the Services
applet under Computer Management.

Beyond that, Net Send is functional enough to do what you want, you can
broadcast terse messages to all nodes in a workgroup (or a domain if you're in
need of a Stupid Network User trick ;-) simultaneously with a judiciously
placed asterisk...
 
o' Registry magic, without affecting the viability of Net Send. If you want to
use Net Send, you need the (latter) Messenger Service (among other services
such as Workstation) running on any node you want to issue or receive
alerts.The Messenger Service can be found as "Messenger" in the Services
applet under Computer Management.

Beyond that, Net Send is functional enough to do what you want, you can
broadcast terse messages to all nodes in a workgroup (or a domain if you're in
need of a Stupid Network User trick ;-) simultaneously with a judiciously
placed asterisk...
Click to expand...

I think that did the trick! one of the computers had Messenger disabled.
You'd think they would have better instructions in the help section :)
 
I think that did the trick! one of the computers had Messenger disabled.
You'd think they would have better instructions in the help section :)
Click to expand...

Windows Help is an oxymoron...
 
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