How to Enable NET SEND Messenger Service on Windows XP

/* Posted October 13th, 2008 at 12:30pm */
/* Filed under Microsoft, Windows */
/* */

If you installed Windows XP SP2 or later, the Messenger service was disabled in order to prevent the net send spam that was getting popular a few years ago. As a result, the fun net send command stopped working for most people, as they did not know how to enable it again. But you can manually re-enable the messenger service again to allow you to send and receive net send messages again.

Without it, you get an error message like this:

An error occurred while sending a message to x.x.x.x. The message alias could not be found on the network. More help is available by typing NET HELPMSG 2273.

To resolve this, right click on your My Computer icon on the desktop and click Manage. Look for the Services and Applications tab, expand it and click on Services. Then browse for the Messenger service on the right window.

Double click on it and choose "Automatic" for startup type. Then click the "Start" button near the bottom to start the service.

Ask a friend you want to message to enable it too, then you’ll be able to send quick messages to your buddy. If you’re on the same network, the computer name or Windows login name will work. Otherwise, the IP address will do the trick. The syntax is pretty simple. Launch the command prompt (Start -> Run -> "cmd.exe"), then type:

net send [computer name|login name|ip address] [message]

For example, "net send John Hey, it’s time for lunch!" would tell user John "Hey, it’s time for lunch!"

9 Responses to “How to Enable NET SEND Messenger Service on Windows XP”

Comment from satyakrishna

/* January 26, 2009 at 10:37 pm */

I am really than full to u, your message was very help full to me, i search many site for this query, no one answer exactly,
than q, one more is while sending msg,
“net send ip msg” its working
instead of ip i just wann to place the name of the compter, i tried it but i is not working, why/

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Comment from adm_snackbar

/* January 27, 2009 at 12:07 am */

That’s a problem with the way your network is configured, not any problem with Messenger Service. You need to have your local DNS server set up correctly for machine names to translate properly to IP addresses.

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Comment from Sonic

/* January 28, 2009 at 7:23 pm */

hey i tried to enable net send on vista but the messenger icon wasn’t even there! does this mean i cant enable this on vista? at all

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Comment from Nick-o

/* February 3, 2009 at 5:25 am */

If the Messenger was removed, how can I get it back?

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Comment from rayver07

/* February 5, 2009 at 8:24 am */

thanks a lot for helping me to activate the net send … now i can spam my friends while they playing in my computer shop ^___^Y

it really helps thanks

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Comment from ME

/* March 10, 2009 at 6:12 am */

UR RETARDED
this wont work for XP

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Comment from martin jospeh

/* May 2, 2009 at 1:55 am */

thank you,

this information helped me a lot, to msg my friends over lan at school..

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Comment from Fernando Smith

/* May 15, 2009 at 1:21 pm */

holas, deseo enviar un mensaje de una Pc XP a una Pc Vista y viceversa, dentro de la misma RED, (ambas se ven) XP usa el net send y el Vista el Msg puedo o como puedo comunicarme entre las dos? hay alguna forma por medio de los comandos ?

no tengo problemas entre Sistemas XP, como hacer en serio ?

comuniquenme por fa, gracias.
calin_sc@htomail.com

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Comment from Fernando Smith

/* May 15, 2009 at 1:24 pm */

how to send message betwen Pc XP to Pc Vista with NET SEND (XP)or / and the MSG (Vista)
how to do it with the commands, please
write me
calin_sc@hotmail.com
thanks

messages
XP to Vista and Vista to XP ?

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