Share on FacebookWhen using Windows XP and previous operating systems one could easily send messages from one computer to another by using the "Net Send" command from the command prompt. Typing a command like this:
Net send Support "Please contact help desk immediately!"
Would result in the computer searching for the location where the user Support has last logged on, or in case of a computer, where the computer called Support is listed, and would send that message to that user or computer. You should note that this method of sending messages was made available by the Messenger service running on the target machine. Without it, there could be no messages transmitted to that computer.
Note: Windows XP SP1 (or was it SP2? I can't remember right now) disabled the Messenger service by default. So does Windows Server 2003 SP1.
Long story made short, when using Windows Vista one might go looking for the "Net send" in Vista and wonder where it went. There is NO "Net send" command in Vista… However, there is a solution. You can use MSG.EXE instead.
Note: Apparently Windows Vista Home Basic and Home Premium editions do not have the msg.exe command installed. It does work on Vista Business, Enterprise or Ultimate edition.
Click on the Start button, type CMD in the search box and press Enter.