Microsoft Windows XP – net use, a built-in program to handle network connections

Syntax

net use [{DeviceName | *}] [\\ComputerName\ShareName[\volume]] [{Password | *}]] [/user:[DomainName\]UserName] [/user:[DottedDomainName\]UserName] [/user: [UserName@DottedDomainName] [/savecred] [/smartcard] [{/delete | /persistent:{yes | no}}]

net use [DeviceName [/home[{Password | *}] [/delete:{yes | no}]]

net use [/persistent:{yes | no}]

Here are several examples I use a lot

To connect the user UserName as if the connection were made from the DomainName domain

net use \\ServerName /u:DomainName\UserName

Similar as the one above, but also assign (map) the disk-driver device name z: to the directory letters

net use z: \\ServerName\letters /u:DomainName\UserName

To restore the current connections at each logon, regardless of future changes (use it with extreme caution)

net use /persistent:yes

To disconnect from the \\Financial\Public directory and delete cached credential of the server Financial

net use f: \\Financial\Public /delete

To disconnect from all connected networks and delete all cached credential

net use * /d

Of course, log out the current the user is the easiest way to delete all cached credential of shared network. However, when you don’t the condition to perform a logout, net use * \d becomes handy!

The IPC$ share is used with temporary connections between clients and servers by using named pipes for communication among network programs. It is primarily used for to remotely administer network servers. I tried to use net use z: \\ServerName\$IPC /delete, but got error message – the solution from google search is “I have to logoff”! Any suggestion? Windows right-click trick did not work – I cannot find the “Stop sharing” item …