18 May, 2012
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Tech Notes DOS Commands Net Use Command XP / Win 2000

Net Use Command XP / Win 2000

Net Use Command XP / Win 2000 | DOS Commands

 

Net use Commands:

 

Popular Examples:

NET USE G: \\computername\folder

NET USE L: /delete  /y

Connects a computer to or disconnects a computer from a shared resource, or displays information about computer connections. The command also controls persistent net connections. Used without parameters, net use retrieves a list of network connections.

Syntax

net use [{DeviceName | *}] [\\ComputerName\ShareName[\volume]] [{Password | *}]] [/user:[DomainName\]UserName] [/user:[DottedDomainName\]UserName] [/user: [UserName@DottedDomainName] [/savecred] [/smartcard] [{/delete | /persistent:{yes | no}}]

net use [DeviceName [/home[{Password | *}] [/delete:{yes | no}]]

net use [/persistent:{yes | no}]

Parameters

DeviceName : Assigns a name to connect to the resource or specifies the device to be disconnected. There are two kinds of device names: disk drives (that is, D: through Z:) and printers (that is, LPT1: through LPT3:). Type an asterisk (*) instead of a specific device name to assign the next available device name.

\\ComputerName\ShareName : Specifies the name of the server and the shared resource. If ComputerName contains spaces, use quotation marks around the entire computer name from the double backslash (\\) to the end of the computer name (for example, "\\Computer Name\Share Name"). The computer name can be from 1 to 15 characters long.

\volume : Specifies a NetWare volume on the server. You must have Client Service for NetWare installed and running to connect to NetWare servers.

Password : Specifies the password needed to access the shared resource. Type an asterisk (*) to produce a prompt for the password. The password is not displayed when you type it at the password prompt.

/user : Specifies a different user name with which the connection is made.

DomainName : Specifies another domain. If you omit DomainName, net use uses the current logged on domain.

UserName : Specifies the user name with which to log on.

DottedDomainName : Specifies the fully-qualified domain name for the domain where the user account exists.

/savecred : Stores the provided credentials for reuse.

/smartcard : Specifies the network connection is to use the credentials on a smart card. If multiple smart cards are available, you are asked to specify the credential.

/delete : Cancels the specified network connection. If you specify the connection with an asterisk (*), all network connections are canceled.

Delete Maped drive silently: net use x: /delete /y - these deletes maped drive silently

/persistent:{yes | no} : Controls the use of persistent network connections. The default is the setting used last. Deviceless connections are not persistent. Yes saves all connections as they are made, and restores them at next logon. No does not save the connection being made or subsequent connections. Existing connections are restored at the next logon. Use /delete to remove persistent connections.

/home : Connects a user to the home directory.

net help command : Displays help for the specified net command.

NET USE Chart for Windows XP syntax

NET [ ACCOUNTS | COMPUTER | CONFIG | CONTINUE | FILE | GROUP | HELP | HELPMSG | LOCALGROUP | NAME | PAUSE | PRINT | SEND | SESSION | SHARE | START | STATISTICS | STOP | TIME | USE | USER | VIEW ]

NET ACCOUNTS Adjust account settings.

[/FORCELOGOFF:{minutes | NO}] [/MINPWLEN:length]
[/MAXPWAGE:{days | UNLIMITED}] [/MINPWAGE:days]
[/UNIQUEPW:number] [/DOMAIN]
NET COMPUTER Add other networked computers with Windows Domain Controller.

\\computername {/ADD | /DEL}
NET CONFIG Displays your current server and/or workgroup settings.

[SERVER | WORKSTATION]
NET CONTINUE Continues the use of service.

[service]
NET FILE Display opened shared files on the server.

[id [/CLOSE]]
NET GROUP Add, delete, view, and otherwise manage network workgroups.

[groupname [/COMMENT:"text"]] [/DOMAIN]
groupname {/ADD [/COMMENT:"text"] | /DELETE} [/DOMAIN]
groupname username [...] {/ADD | /DELETE} [/DOMAIN]
NET LOCALGROUP Add, delete, view, and otherwise manage network groups.

[groupname [/COMMENT:"text"]] [/DOMAIN]
groupname {/ADD [/COMMENT:"text"] | /DELETE} [/DOMAIN]
groupname name [...] {/ADD | /DELETE} [/DOMAIN]
NET NAME Create or delete name used for messaging.

[name [/ADD | /DELETE]]
NET PAUSE Pause the specified network service.

[service]
NET PRINT Manage network print jobs.

\\computername\sharename
[\\computername] job# [/HOLD | /RELEASE | /DELETE]
NET SEND Sends messages to other users, computers, or messaging names on the network. The Messenger service must be running to receive messages.

You can send a message only to an name that is active on the network. If the message is sent to a username, that user must be logged on and running the Messenger service to receive the message.

{name | * | /DOMAIN[:name] | /USERS} message
NET SESSION Display all sessions connected to the computer and deletes them if specified.

[\\computername] [/DELETE]
NET SHARE Create and manage a local network share.

sharename
sharename=drive:path [/USERS:number | /UNLIMITED]
[/REMARK:"text"]
[/CACHE:Manual | Documents| Programs | None ]
sharename [/USERS:number | /UNLIMITED]
[/REMARK:"text"]
[/CACHE:Manual | Documents | Programs | None]
{sharename | devicename | drive:path} /DELETE
NET START Start the specified network service.

[service]
NET STATISTICS Display network statistics of the workstation or server.

[WORKSTATION | SERVER]
NET STOP Stop the specified network service.

service
NET TIME Display the time and date of another network computer.

[\\computername | /DOMAIN[:domainname] | /RTSDOMAIN[:domainname]] [/SET]
[\\computername] /QUERYSNTP
[\\computername] /SETSNTP[:ntp server list]
NET USE Connects or disconnects your computer from a shared resource or displays information about your connections.

[devicename | *] [\\computername\sharename[\volume] [password | *]]
[/USER:[domainname\]username]
[/USER:[dotted domain name\]username]
[/USER:[username@dotted domain name]
[/SMARTCARD]
[/SAVECRED]
[[/DELETE] | [/PERSISTENT:{YES | NO}]]

NET USE {devicename | *} [password | *] /HOME

NET USE [/PERSISTENT:{YES | NO}]
NET USER Displays users on the computer and/or domain.

[username [password | *] [options]] [/DOMAIN]
username {password | *} /ADD [options] [/DOMAIN]
username [/DELETE] [/DOMAIN]
NET VIEW Displays a list of computers in a specified workgroup or the shared resources available on a specified computer.

[\\computername [/CACHE] | /DOMAIN[:domainname]]
NET VIEW /NETWORK:NW [\\computername]

NET USE Chart for Windows 2000 syntax

NET CONFIG Displays your current workgroup settings.

NET CONFIG [/YES]

/YES Carries out the NET CONFIG command without
first prompting you to provide information or
confirm actions.
NET DIAG Runs the Microsoft Network Diagnostics program to test the hardware connection between two computers and to display information about a single computer.

NET DIAGNOSTICS [/NAMES | /STATUS]

/NAMES Specifies a diagnostic server name in order to avoid conflicts when NET DIAG is used simultaneously by multiple users. This option works only when the network uses a  NetBIOS protocol.
/STATUS Enables you to specify a computer about which you want  network diagnostics information.
NET HELP Displays information about NET commands and error messages.

command /?
NET HELP [suffix]
NET HELP errornum

command /? Specifies the Microsoft NET command that you want information about.
suffix Specifies the second word of the command you want  information about. For example, the suffix of  NET VIEW is VIEW.
errornum Specifies the number of the error message that you want information about.
NET INIT Loads protocol and network-adapter drivers without binding them to Protocol Manager. This command may be required if you are using a third-party network-adapter driver. You can then bind the drivers to Protocol Manager by typing NET START NETBIND.

NET INITIALIZE [/DYNAMIC]

/DYNAMIC  Loads the Protocol Manager dynamically. This is useful with some third-party networks, such as  Banyan(R) VINES(R), to resolve memory problems.
NET LOGOFF Breaks the connection between your computer and the shared resources to which it is connected.

NET LOGOFF [/YES]

/YES Carries out the NET LOGOFF command without first prompting you to provide information or confirm actions.
NET LOGON Identifies you as a member of a workgroup.

NET LOGON [user [password | ?]] [/DOMAIN:name] [/YES] [/SAVEPW:NO]

user Specifies the name that identifies you in your workgroup. The name you specify can  contain up to 20 characters.
password The unique string of characters that authorizes you to gain access to your  password-list file. The password can contain up to 14 characters.
? Specifies that you want to be prompted for your password.
/DOMAIN Specifies that you want to log on to a  Microsoft Windows NT or LAN Manager domain. name Specifies the Windows NT or LAN Manager domain you want to log on to.
/YES Carries out the NET LOGON command without first prompting you to provide information or confirm actions.
/SAVEPW:NO Carries out the NET LOGON command without prompting you to create a password-list file.

If you would rather be prompted to type your user name and password instead of specifying them in the NET LOGON command line, type NET LOGON without options.
NET PASSWORD Changes your logon password.

NET PASSWORD [oldpassword [newpassword]]
NET PASSWORD \\computer | /DOMAIN:name [user [oldpassword [newpassword]]]

oldpassword Specifies your current password.
newpassword Specifies your new password. It can have as many as 14 characters.
computer Specifies the Windows NT or LAN Manager server on which you want to change your password.
/DOMAIN Specifies that you want to change your
password on a Windows NT or LAN Manager domain.
Name Specifies the Windows NT or LAN Manager domain on which
you want to change your password.
user Specifies your Windows NT or LAN Manager user name.

The first syntax line above is for changing the password for your  password-list file. The second syntax line above is for changing your  password on a Windows NT or LAN Manager server or domain.
NET PRINT Displays information about print queues and controls print jobs.

NET PRINT \\computer[\printer] | port [/YES]
NET PRINT \\computer | port [job# [/PAUSE | /RESUME | /DELETE]] [/YES]

computer Specifies the name of the computer whose print queue you want information about.
printer Specifies the name of the printer you  want information about.
port Specifies the name of the parallel (LPT) port on your computer that is connected to the printer you want information about.
job# Specifies the number assigned to a queued print job. You can specify the below options.
/PAUSE Pauses a print job.
/RESUME Restarts a print job that has been paused.
/DELETE Cancels a print job.
/YES Carries out the NET PRINT command without first prompting you to provide information or confirm actions.

When you specify the name of a computer by using the NET PRINT command, you receive information about the print queues on each of the shared printers that are connected to the computer.
NET SEND NET SEND {name | * | /DOMAIN[:name] | /USERS} message

Sends messages to other users, computers, or messaging names on the network. The Messenger service must be running to receive messages.

You can send a message only to an name that is active on the network. If the message is sent to a username, that user must be logged on and running the Messenger service to receive the message.

name  Is the username, computername, or messaging name to send the message to. If the name is a computername that contains blank characters, enclose the alias in quotation marks (" ").
* Sends the message to all the names in your group.
/DOMAIN[:name] Sends the message to all the names in the workstation domain. If name is specified, the message is sent to all the names in the specified domain or workgroup.
/USERS Sends the message to all users connected to the server.
message Is text to be sent as a message.
NET SHARE NET SHARE sharename

 

sharename=drive:path [/USERS:number | /UNLIMITED]
[/REMARK:"text"]
[/CACHE:Manual | Automatic | No ]
sharename [/USERS:number | /UNLIMITED]
[/REMARK:"text"]
[/CACHE:Manual | Automatic | No ]
{sharename | devicename | drive:path}  /DELETE
NET START Starts services. NOTE: Services cannot be started from a command prompt within Windows.

NET START [BASIC | NWREDIR | WORKSTATION | NETBIND | NETBEUI | NWLINK] [/LIST] [/YES] [/VERBOSE]

BASIC Starts the basic redirector.
NWREDIR Starts the Microsoft Novell(R) compatible redirector.
WORKSTATION Starts the default redirector.
NETBIND Binds protocols and network-adapter drivers.
NETBEUI Starts the NetBIOS interface.
NWLINK Starts the IPX/SPX-compatible interface.
/LIST Displays a list of the services that are running.
/YES Carries out the NET START command without first prompting you to provide information or confirm actions.
/VERBOSE Displays information about device drivers and services as they are loaded.

To start the workgroup redirector you selected during Setup, type NET START without options. In general, you don't need  to use any of the options.
NET STOP Stops services. NOTE: Services cannot be stopped from a command prompt within Windows.

NET STOP [BASIC | NWREDIR | WORKSTATION | NETBEUI | NWLINK] [/YES]

NET STOP Stops the basic redirector.
BASIC Stops the basic redirector.
NWREDIR Stops the Microsoft Novell(R) compatible redirector.
WORKSTATION Stops the default redirector.
NETBEUI Stops the NetBIOS interface.
NWLINK Stops the IPX/SPX compatible interface.
/YES Carries out the NET STOP command without first prompting you to provide information or confirm actions.

To stop the workgroup redirector, type NET STOP without options. This breaks all your connections to shared resources and removes the NET commands from your computer's memory.
NET TIME Displays the time on or synchronizes your computer's clock with the shared clock on a Microsoft Windows for  Workgroups, Windows NT, Windows 95, or NetWare time server.

NET TIME [\\computer | /WORKGROUP:wgname] [/SET] [/YES]

computer Specifies the name of the computer (time server) whose time you want to check or synchronize your computer's clock with.
/WORKGROUP Specifies that you want to use the clock on a  computer (time server) in another workgroup.
wgname Specifies the name of the workgroup containing a computer whose clock you want to check or synchronize your computer's clock with. If there are multiple time servers in that workgroup, NET TIME uses the first one it finds.
/SET Synchronizes your computer's clock with the clock on the computer or workgroup you specify.
/YES Carries out the NET TIME command without first prompting you to provide information or confirm actions.
NET USE Connects or disconnects your computer from a shared resource or displays information about your connections.

NET USE [drive: | *] [\\computer\directory [password | ?]]
[/SAVEPW:NO] [/YES] [/NO]
NET USE [port:] [\\computer\printer [password | ?]]
[/SAVEPW:NO] [/YES] [/NO]

NET USE drive: | \\computer\directory /DELETE [/YES]
NET USE port: | \\computer\printer /DELETE [/YES]
NET USE * /DELETE [/YES]

NET USE drive: | * /HOME

drive Specifies the drive letter you assign to a shared directory.
* Specifies the next available drive letter. If used with /DELETE, specifies to disconnect all of your connections.
port Specifies the parallel (LPT) port name you assign to a shared printer.
computer Specifies the name of the computer sharing the resource.
directory Specifies the name of the shared directory.
printer Specifies the name of the shared printer.
password Specifies the password for the shared resource, if any.
? Specifies that you want to be prompted for the password of the shared resource. You don't  need to use this option unless the password is optional.
/SAVEPW:NO Specifies that the password you type should not be saved in your password-list file. You need to retype the password the next time you connect to this resource.
/YES Carries out the NET USE command without first prompting you to provide information or confirm actions.
/DELETE Breaks the specified connection to a shared
resource.
/NO Carries out the NET USE command, responding  with NO automatically when you are prompted to confirm actions.
/HOME Makes a connection to your HOME directory if one is specified in your LAN Manager or Windows NT user account.

To list all of your connections, type NET USE without options.
NET VER Displays the type and version number of the workgroup redirector you are using. 

NET VER
NET VIEW Displays a list of computers in a specified workgroup or the shared resources available on a specified computer.

NET VIEW [\\computer] [/YES]
NET VIEW [/WORKGROUP:wgname] [/YES]

computer Specifies the name of the computer whose shared resources you want to see listed.
/WORKGROUP Specifies that you want to view the names of the computers in another workgroup that share resources.
wgname Specifies the name of the workgroup whose computer names you want to view.
/YES Carries out the NET VIEW command without first prompting you to provide information or confirm actions.

To display a list of computers in your workgroup that share
resources, type NET VIEW without options.