[ # ] 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!"