KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q254210: Cannot Use Net View \\Localhost Command

Article: Q254210
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 2000,4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kberrmsg w2000smb kbSMB
Last Modified: 29-MAR-2002

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional 
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Server 
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When you type "net view \\localhost" (without the quotation marks), 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.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kberrmsg w2000smb kbSMB 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbwin2000AdvServ kbwin2000AdvServSearch kbwin2000Serv kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbwin2000ServSearch kbwin2000Search kbwin2000ProSearch kbwin2000Pro kbWinAdvServSearch
Version           : :2000,4.0
Issue type        : kbprb

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.