[Solved] net use command cannot find host

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Windows hosts.
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GeffM
Posts: 2
Joined: 22. Jul 2022, 02:41

[Solved] net use command cannot find host

Post by GeffM »

Moved my vm from v5 to V6.1
Previously, Host=Win7, VM=Windows XP
New, Host=Win10, VM=Windows XP
XP vm running very old accounting program that can only print to lpt ports, not usb
Previously used "net use lpt1 \\hostname\printersharename
For some reason, vm cannot find win10 host, although I can ping it by IP, I cannot ping it by name.
Also tried adding hostname into c:\windows\system\drivers\etc\hosts file, didn't help
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39134
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: net use command cannot find host

Post by mpack »

This is possibly due to the fact that SMB1 support is deprecated and disabled by default on Windows 10. SMB was the original XP network sharing protocol, for sharing folders and printers. It was inefficient and insecure so was eventually replaced by SMB2. Although the latter has been around as an option for a while, it became the default in Windows 10.

SMB1 can still be enabled in the Optional Features panel in Windows 10. However if I was you I'd be concerned that the feature may disappear entirely in future Windows releases. Maybe time to export that accounting data and get it into modern software? (by which I mean anything from the last 25 years!).
GeffM
Posts: 2
Joined: 22. Jul 2022, 02:41

Re: net use command cannot find host

Post by GeffM »

great spot, didn't think of it, problem solved, thanks :D
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39134
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: net use command cannot find host

Post by mpack »

Thanks for reporting back, and glad my guess worked out. :)
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