In Windows XP, you can send a message to a selected IP address using the built-in console utility net send. In later versions, specialized applications or online services are required.
Instructions
Step 1
Log in to the system with an administrator account and open the main system menu by clicking the "Start" button. Go to Control Panel and expand the Administrative Tools link. Expand the Services node and locate the Messenger Service item.
Step 2
Open the found element by double-clicking and go to the "General" tab of the properties dialog box that opens. Specify the value "Auto" in the "Startup type" section and confirm your choice by clicking the "Apply" button.
Step 3
Use an alternative method to enable the required messaging service. To do this, return to the main system menu "Start" and go to the "Run" dialog. Enter the cmd value in the "Open" line and confirm the launch of the command line utility by clicking the OK button.
Step 4
Enter sc config messenger start = auto on the first line of the Windows command interpreter and net start messenger on the second. Authorize the launch of the net send console utility by pressing the Enter function key.
Step 5
Use the following net send command syntax at the command line: net send username | * | / domain: domain_name | / users message, where: - user_name - addressee of the message; - * - all members of the selected domain; - domain: domain_name - all domain names; - users - all clients of the server being used.
Step 6
Please note that private messages cannot use more than 1600 characters, and bulk mailings cannot use more than 128 characters. Recipient names cannot exceed 15 characters (for Windows XP).
Step 7
For the sent utility to work correctly in later versions of Windows OS, the network settings must be configured to allow the use of NetBIOS using TCP / IP and ports 145 and 139 must be open. The network environment and file sharing settings are also a prerequisite.
Step 8
Use the specialized online service IPMessage.net to send messages to the selected address. The service is free and does not require registration.
