DOCUMENT:Q254210 29-MAR-2002 [winnt] TITLE :Cannot Use Net View \\Localhost Command PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER::2000,4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kberrmsg w2000smb kbSMB ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2002.