Right-click the user you want to configure, and choose Properties from the pop-up win-

Part III ✦ Working with Networked Computers NET HELP works in XP, whereas NET ? does not; however, ? after any other command in 2000 and XP does work. When you type either command, MS-DOS lists all the network MS-DOS commands, along with a brief description. Because there is more than one screen of commands, you might want dis- play the commands one screen at a time. Using the |MORE switch or the P switch, you can display a screen of help at a time. If you want to display help on any one command, you can enter the command with the ? switch. For example, type NET USE ? to view a description of that command plus any parameters and switches you can use with NET USE. NET USE is a command that displays your current network connections. Viewing connections PING is the most common command used at a command prompt. PING sends echoes out to the IP address you specify and then lists responses back from the device. If PING doesn’t work, the connection isn’t working on a hardware level. For example, suppose you type the following into one computer: PING 192.168.11.123 The command sends the echo request to the IP address 192.168.11.123. If the network card, cable or wireless connection, hub or switch, and any other hardware in between are working, the other computer replies. If there is a problem, the PING request times out. For more information about using PING, see Appendix B. Viewing a computer’s network settings The NET CONFIG command, in Windows 98, enables you to view the current computer’s net- work settings. You see the computer’s name, username, workgroup name, and software oper- ating system version. Following is an example of what you might see if you type NET CONFIG at the MS-DOS prompt. Computer Name \\Sue User name PlumSJ Workgroup Opinions Workstation Root Directory C:\Windows Software Version 4.10.1999 Redirector Version 4.00 The redirector is a software module on all networked computers. The redirector intercepts the requests from applications and diverts them to another computer. In Windows XP, the NET CONFIG command is of little help to you because it shows you the services you can control that are running instead of username and workgroup. Some other DOS commands you cannot use with 2000 and XP because of the security. Still, if you’re in doubt, try the command. Windows will tell you what you need to know. Note Cross- Reference Note Chapter 13 ✦ Accessing the Network Viewing network shares You can use the NET VIEW command to view all computers attached to the network. You also can use the command, with parameters and switches, to view the resources on any one net- worked computer. The resources list any shared folders, drives, printers, and so on. The following shows a list of computers you might see if you type NET VIEW at the MS-DOS prompt: \\Hugh \\Molly \\Sue If you want to see the resources on one computer, type NET VIEW \\HUGH YES, for example. NET VIEW is the command, \\HUGH is the computer’s name, and YES is a confirmation that you want to view the resources. Following is a listing of what you might see: Accounts Disk Network Disk School Disk HP Color 720 Print Zip Disk Using batch files for permanent connections One particularly useful MS-DOS command is NET USE. You can use this command to set up a permanent network connection drive mapping for any user with Windows 98 or XP. Although you also can use Windows drive mapping to perform this task, often the user can- cels the Reconnect at Logon option if the mapped computer is turned off, for example and loses the mapping. Then you have to create the mapping again — and again and again. To cre- ate permanent connections that the user cannot cancel, you can create a batch file in the StartUp group. A batch file is a text file that contains commands that are carried out automati- cally upon startup. The commands are entered into the system, one at a time, just as if you had typed them in yourself. Batch files use a .BAT extension to identify them as such to the operating system. One problem with using an MS-DOS batch file for network connections is that MS-DOS cannot use long filenames or spaces in filenames. If your computer’s name or any folder’s name is longer than eight characters, or if you use a space within the computer’s name or the folder’s name, you cannot use the MS-DOS batch file for connection purposes. The path \\Sue\My Documents doesn’t work with the NET USE command, for example, because My Documents is both more than eight characters long and contains a space. Use a batch file for permanent connections to save your users and yourself time and frus- tration. You can create one file that lists all network connections so that the user always can find quickly the folders he or she needs. Creating the file NET USE connects to or disconnects from a shared resource. In any text editor, such as Notepad, you type the command NET USE. The first parameter lists the drive letter you want to assign, such as J:, K:, L:, M:, or some other drive letter. Next, type the path to the folder. You can add multiple mapped drives to the same file. Small Business Tip Part III ✦ Working with Networked Computers You save the file as a BAT file. You can save it anywhere, such as the Windows directory. Next, place a shortcut in the Windows StartUp folder. The next time the user starts the computer, the network connections are made automatically. Creating a batch file is a lot easier than it sounds. Follow these steps: 1. Choose Start ➪ Programs ➪ Accessories ➪ Notepad. The Notepad window appears. 2. Type the command and parameters. Following is a sample: NET USE N: \\SUE\ NETSHARE . 3. Optionally, add other drive mappings, such as NET USE N: \\SUE\NETSHARE, \\SUE\MSPUBS, and \\CARLOS\DOCS. 4. Choose File ➪ Save As. The Save As dialog box appears. 5. In the File Name text box, enter a name; the name must be no more than eight charac- ters long, plus the .BAT extension. Make sure that you enter the .BAT extension; other- wise, Notepad enters a .TXT extension. You might call it CONNECT.BAT, for example, or HUGH.BAT. 6. In the Save as Type box, specify that you want to save the file as a text document. 7. By default, Notepad saves files in the My Documents folder. You should not save the file here because it can be deleted easily. Save the file in the C:\Windows directory.

8. Click Save. Figure 13-20 illustrates the batch file in Notepad.

Figure 13-20: Enter multiple network connections, if you want.

9. Choose File ➪ Exit.

Placing the file in the StartUp folder You must place the file in the StartUp folder before it will work. Any file in the StartUp folder is executed automatically when Windows starts. When using the StartUp folder, you can use a shortcut to the file instead of the original file, so you’ll have a backup for the file. A shortcut is a marker that identifies the file and its location.