Cannot Find Host Computer Using Direct Cable Connection

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This article was previously published under Q159578

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SYMPTOMS

When you are trying to use Direct Cable Connection to connect to a host computer, you may receive one of the following error messages:

Status: Connected via Parallel cable on LPT1. Looking for Shared folders.

Cannot find the host computer.

NOTE: To more effectively search the Microsoft Knowledge Base, use keywords that relate to your issue. If you are searching for troubleshooting information that is not mentioned in this article, search the Microsoft Knowledge Base again by using keywords that are listed in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

242450 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/242450/EN-US/ ) How to Query the Microsoft Knowledge Base Using Keywords

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CAUSE

This issue can occur if the Vredir.vxd file is missing or damaged.

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RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, rename the Vredir.vxd file (if it exists) in the Windows\System to Vredir.old, and then extract a new copy of the Vredir.vxd file to the Windows\System folder. To rename a file, right-click the file, click Rename, type the new file name, and then press ENTER. For additional information about how to use the Extract tool to extract a file, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

129605 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/129605/EN-US/ ) How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files

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MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about how to use Direct Cable Connection, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

152562 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/152562/EN-US/ ) How to Use Windows 95 to Connect Computers on a Network

127136 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/127136/EN-US/ ) Direct Cable Connection Fails with Only NetBEUI Loaded

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