NET USE to 16 Character Dotted-DNS Name May Fail

ID: Q221150

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

The NET USE command fails to connect to a server with a 16-character DNS name (such as xxxxx.xxxxxx.xxx).

CAUSE

NetBIOS names are limited to 16 characters. The last character is reserved for the system and is a special character used to identify the resource type. When connecting to a DNS-style name, the sixteenth character was being modified by the system instead of being passed to the DNS. DNS-style names should be passed "literally" to the domain name resolver to be resolved.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or the individual software update. For information on obtaining the latest service pack, please go to:

http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/ServicePacks/

Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack

For information on obtaining the individual software update, contact Microsoft Product Support Services. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:

http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT version 4.0 Service Pack 5.

Additional query words: 4.00

Keywords : kbbug4.00 kbfix4.00 nt4sp5fix
Version : winnt:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug