Code Error 800A01CE - Remote Server does not exist

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Troubleshooting Code 800A01CE - The remote server machine does not exist or is unavailable

Introduction to Code 800A01CE

Error code 800A01CE is a classic example of reading the error message: The remote server does not exist or unavailable.  All you have to do is think - why is server unavailable?  Does it exist?  Could it be a typo?

The Symptoms you get

The script does not execute as you hoped, instead you get a WSH error message.

The Cause of Error 800A01CE

Most likely, your VBScript has a misspelled object.   The actual error message is helpful and is alerting you the fact that WSH does not know an Object that you have are trying to access.

IIncidentally, Source: reports a runtime error not a compilation error, this means you are looking not for a pure syntax problem, but a fault logic error.  In the case of runtime errors, you can use this temporary work around.  Add this statement just before the line which errors: On Error Resume Next.

Advice from Chuck

Chuck says: Error 800A01CE absorbed about two days.  I could run the script fine on the server but not on a Windows 2000 Professional workstation.  I was using DHCP, which was getting my DNS from my production server. Once I changed the network settings to get DNS from the test server, it worked!

Note: to make sure my DNS would work with the rest of my network, I modified the Forwarder setting on the Test server DNS to point to my production DNS.

Hope this helps some other poor fellow from wasting a whole lot of time!!!

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The Solutions to Remote Server does not exist

Check the names in your script, pay particular attention to object names. 
Note: Line: 3  
Char: 1

This is a relatively easy problem to track down, either you have misspelt the server name, or the server is down.  Whilst the error is on line 3, In this case it is not Char 1 to blame, more that there is something wrong and none of this line can execute.

As a last resort, in the case of runtime errors, you can add this line:
On Error Resume Next.

Example of Error 800A01CE Script

Note: The Line: 3 & strServer.  On closer inspection strServer refers to Lucy3 in line 1.

In my particular example, the server was called Lucky3 so Lucy3 was a typo.

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Do you need extra help?

For interpreting the WSH messages check Diagnose 800 errors.

For general advice try my 7 Troubleshooting techniques

Give something back?

Would you like to help others?  If you have a good example of this error, then please email me, I will publish it with a credit to you:

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