Cannot Ping Computer Name That Begins with a Hyphen (244739)

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This article was previously published under Q244739

SYMPTOMS

You cannot use the command-line Ping tool to ping a host whose name begins with a hyphen.

The Ping tool uses hyphens to flag command-line parameters that follow the ping command.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

For example, assume a working host name such as "--z--z.microsoft.com". You cannot ping this valid host name with the following command:

ping --z--z.microsoft.com

The Ping tool cannot differentiate between a command-line flag and a computer name that begins with a hyphen.

Modification Type:	Major	Last Reviewed:	10/6/2003
Keywords:	kbprb KB244739