Troubleshooting LMHOSTS Name Resolution Issues

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0
• Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to load the contents of an Lmhosts file into the NetBIOS Remote Cache Name Table using the Nbtstat -R command, you may notice that the entries are not loading. You can view this by using the Nbtstat -c command.

CAUSE

The Lmhosts file is very specific in its required syntax and may be incorrectly formatted.

RESOLUTION

To troubleshoot this issue, use the following:

• Open the Lmhosts file in a text editor, such as Notepad.exe or Edit.com, and place three or four carriage returns at the bottom of the file.
  
  NOTE: If you are using Notepad.exe, then make certain that you do not save the file using Unicode.



• Make sure the Lmhosts lookup is enabled by performing the following steps:
  
  
  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and click Control Panel.
  
  
  
  2. Double-click Networks, click the Protocols tab, and double-click the TCP/IP Protocol.
  
  
  
  3. Click the WINS Address tab and click the Enable LMHOSTS Lookup to enable it.
     
     NOTE: You will need to restart your computer for this change to take effect.
  
  
  



• Verify that your Lmhosts file is in the proper folder and has no file extension. For more information, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge base:

  Q180094 How to Write an LMHOSTS File for Domain Validation

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbnetwork kbtshoot win95 ntnetserv nttcp NTSrvWkst
Version : WinNT:3.5,3.51,4.0;Windows:95
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb