Displaying a message on Networked Computer

[paulcarrm9mx]

Hi i would like to dispay a message on a network computer as follows

PC1 Main Computer
PC2 Second Computer Wireless Connection

ok here goes i am running Macruim Reflect Free on a remote Wirelessly networked computer to back it self up to PC1 which runs Perfectly. but this is what i want to happen.

PC2 - to display/send a message on/to PC1 when Backup is complete . so basically program finishes on PC2
message displays on PC1 saying backup completed.

[seawright]

Call your backup software from a batch file where it is followed by a call to "msg.exe" so that when it returns control to the batch file msg.exe sends a message to PC1 to inform the user that backup is complete.

You might like to experiment with "msg.exe" from a command prompt first as recent versions of MS Windows have messaging to remote PCs disabled by default.

[paulcarrm9mx]

please explain the call batch feature step by step thanks how do i enable Msg.exe on both computers

[seawright]

Use notepad or another text editor to create a file with a .bat suffix containing "call " followed by the command required to run your backup software eg.

call \path_to_Macruim\Reflect_executable.exe /options
msg * /server:PC1 /w "Backup Complete"

The second line should display the message "Backup Complete".

Try both commands from a command prompt first to make sure they work individually. Once they do you can run the name of the batch file to run both commands in succession.

On the subject of msg.exe, first run msg /? to check that it is installed and available in your PATH. If all is well command syntax and help info will be displayed. Next try sending a message locally,

msg * /server:local_host_name /w "Test message"

Provided that works try again but using remote host name. If it works great! If not follow this thread to resolve any errors or other issues: Sending a message to Win 7 host with msg.exe

[paulcarrm9mx]

Hi i get this error
C:\Users\????>msg * /server:****-PC2 /w "Backup of ****-PC is Complete"
* does not exist or is disconnected

when i try to send a test message to pc2

each pc2 displayes its own message just not to each other

?* = hidden username

thanks Paul

PS getting very very close know only msg part needs fixing.

[seawright]

Try using IP addresses instead of host names in case the problem is caused by name resolution. You could also try replacing the wild card * with the user name of the logged on user on the remote machine.

[paulcarrm9mx]

get this with \ip address remote computer C:\Users\Paul>msg paul-pc2 /server:192.168.0.3 /w "Test message"
Error 1825 getting session names

trying the same from remote computer i get error 5 getting session names

[seawright]

You might try googling the error messages you are getting to see if others have had the same problem and hopefully their solutions. Here is one answer to someones error 5 problem:
Solution to Msg.exe “Error 5 getting session names” | Umito

[paulcarrm9mx]

I HAVE GIVEN UP NOT WORTH IT!!
Please close thread

[seawright]

I always preferred "NET SEND" as it just worked. Unfortunately Windows XP was the last OS version that supported this, probably due to it being hijacked by spammers. Msg.exe was an old programme resurrected to fill a need. It is just annoying that Microsoft put so many hoops and hurdles in the way of anyone who wants to use it.