Using Net View to troubleshoot Errors

How to use the net view command to view a list of computer or network resources

The net view command is ever useful network troubleshooting utility. You can use it to displays a list of domains, computers, or shared resources available on a specific computer.

To list all shared resources on a domain or workgroup, at the command prompt, type net view.

To display the shared resources on a computer, do net view \\ComputerName where ComputerName is the name of a specific computer whose resources you want to view.

When using net view, you may see different messages. The following are some of them and resolutions.

Symptom: net view ip successful but not net view \\computername.

Resolutions: 1) name resolution. 2) cache credential - net use \\computername /user:username. 3) make sure the remote computer is in the same workgroup or domain.

Symptom: If you can net use \\ip but not net use \\computername.

Resolutions: you may just need to cache the credential pointing to the computername by using net net use \\computername /user:username command.

Symptom: There are no entries in the list.

Resolution: this is because no shared drive or folder. Go to a folder you want to share, right-click>sharing and select sharing.

System error 5: access is denied.

Resolutions:1) check permission or 2) need to cache credential: logon the same username and password on both computers or use net net use \\computername /user:username command.

System error 51 has occurred. Windows cannot find the network path. Verify that the network path is correct and the destination computer is not busy or turned off. If windows still cannot find the network path, contact your network administrator.

Resolution: enable file and printer sharing.

Can't net view computername - error 52

Symptoms: you can ping a host but not net view it. When using net view \\hostname, you get system error 52 - a duplicate name exists on the network.

Resolutions: there are two host names or alias name (cname) are pointed to the same IP. 1) check the WINS records. 2) check DNS records.

Can't ping or net view computername - error 53

Symptom: if you can ping IP but not computername, or if you can net view \\IP but not \\computername (error 53). You have name resolution problem.

Resolutions: 1) if it is domain environment, check your WINS. 2) if it is peer-to-peer workgroup, enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP. 3) or add NetBEUI on all your workstations.