Select the product you need help with

"System error 53 has occurred. The network path was not found." error message when you try to send a mailslot message to a different workgroup

Article ID: 822345 - View products that this article applies to.

SYMPTOMS

When you try to send a mailslot message from your Microsoft Windows XP-based computer to computers in a different workgroup, you may receive the following error message:

System error 53 has occurred.

The network path was not found.

You experience these symptoms even if both workgroups exist on the same subnet.

Back to the top | Give Feedback

CAUSE

This problem occurs if Windows XP incorrectly processes the mailslot message, and the mailslot message is not broadcast to computers in the other workgroup.

Back to the top | Give Feedback

RESOLUTION

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Windows XP. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322389

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389/EN-US/ )

How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

(http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support)

Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Windows XP

Date         Time   Version        Size     File name
------------------------------------------------------
04-Jun-2003  18:27  5.1.2600.1230  149,248  Netbt.sys

Windows XP 64-Bit Edition

Date         Time   Version        Size     File name
-----------------------------------------------------
04-Jun-2003  18:27  5.1.2600.1230  553,728  Netbt.sys

Back to the top | Give Feedback

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. This problem was first corrected in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2.

Back to the top | Give Feedback