Q: What does the command "Net Use" do?

A: Net Use will map a drive to a network resource. For example, if you have another computer or server on your network called "SERVER" with a shared directory "SHARED" you could issue this command:

net use s: \\server\shared

Once executed, you can then look in your My Computer and observe that you now have an "S:" drive which points to that shared folder. By adding the /PERSISTANT switch to the end of the above command, it will stay that way even after you reboot.

NET USE can also be used to redirect network printers to a local device, such as LPT1: to "Trick" old software that is unable to print to anything other than a local printer.  For example:

net use lpt1: \\server\HPLJ1320

The above command will redirect output to your local LPT1: port to the network printer HPLJ1320 on your server.  (Assuming that printer exists!)

For the complete command syntax, open a command window and type:

net use /?

Q: When I launch Internet Explorer, it says "Detecting Proxy..." at the bottom of the screen and there is a 5-10 second delay before it opens my home page.  How do I elminate this?

A: I'm pretty impatient, so I was glad when I figured out how to eliminate the delay!  Just do this:

1. In Internet Explorer, Tools-> Internet Options -> Connections Tab
2. Click "Lan Settings" at the bottom of the window.
3. Uncheck the box next to "Automatically Detect Settings"
4. Click OK twice.

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