Microsoft KB Archive/254210

= Cannot Use Net View \\Localhost Command =

Article ID: 254210

Article Last Modified on 2/28/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
 * Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition

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This article was previously published under Q254210



SYMPTOMS
When you type net view \\localhost, and then press ENTER, you may receive the following error message:

Windows NT 4.0
Error 53

"The network path was not found."

Windows 2000
Error 52

"A duplicate name exists on the network."



CAUSE
This issue can occur because the name localhost is resolved to the loopback IP Address 127.0.0.1 and NetBIOS over TCP/IP (NetBT) does not bind to the loopback address.

In Windows 2000, the SMB device binds to any IP address (this is why the 'net view' command to the loopback address works in Windows 2000 and does not work in Windows NT) but, when the new SMB device establishes the connection, it checks that it connected to the right computer by checking the end point name. This check fails because 'localhost' is not the name of the local computer.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, use the name of the computer to see the shares of the local computer. You can use the Hostname command to obtain the name of the computer.



STATUS
This behavior is by design.

Keywords: kberrmsg kbprb kbsmb KB254210

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