# No NET SHARE in Windows ME?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-net-share-in-windows-me/211528>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 5, 2003, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-net-share-in-windows-me/211528 "2003-11-05T10:34:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2003, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-net-share-in-windows-me/211528/1 "2003-11-05T10:34:38Z")

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I’m trying to set up a batch file to make it easier for a user to share a removable hard drive (a persistent share gets turned off the first time the machine is booted without the drive attached).

But trying to use NET SHARE is returning:

> [@](#):
>
> The command SHARE is unknown. For a list of valid commands, type NET HELP at  
> the command prompt.  
> For help, type NET /? at the command prompt.

Any ideas? I’m stuck.

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**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-net-share-in-windows-me/211528/2 "2003-11-05T13:28:31Z")

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Is **File and Printer Sharing** enabled in Network properties?

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**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2003, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-net-share-in-windows-me/211528/3 "2003-11-05T14:15:12Z")

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And what happens when you enter NET /?

Does it list SHARE as one of the valid commands? If not, I’d guess that you’re SOL.

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [November 5, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-net-share-in-windows-me/211528/4 "2003-11-05T20:08:17Z")

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Yes, file and printer sharing is enabled (good call) - I can share the drive normally through the right-click menu in Explorer.

Nope; SHARE isn’t listed when I type SHARE /? - indeed the list of supported commands seems very short - only about a dozen of them.

I’m sure I’ve used it in Win98 though, ME _should_ be the same…

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-net-share-in-windows-me/211528/5 "2003-11-06T02:36:47Z")

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It would appear that the ME version of the NET command is a cripple. On an XP system, NET /? returns:

NET [ACCOUNTS | COMPUTER | CONFIG | CONTINUE | FILE | GROUP | HELP | HELPMSG | LOCALGROUP | NAME | PAUSE | PRINT | SEND | SESSION | SHARE | START | STATISTICS | STOP | TIME | USE | USER | VIEW]

Wouldn’t be the first time that ME came up short!