Err Msg: Error Writing to LPTx. The System Cannot Find the File Specified

ID: Q185276

The information in this article applies to:
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information on how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" online Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" online Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

When you try to print to a local printer on a standard parallel port (LPT), you may receive the following error message:

Error writing to LPT<port number>.
The system cannot find the file specified.
When you try to view Devices in Control Panel, the "Parallel" device is missing.


CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the registry entry for the parallel port is incorrect.


RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" online Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

To resolve this issue, check the following registry key to see if Windows NT is detecting the parallel port, and if not, edit the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\MultifunctionAdapter\2
\Parallel Controller\

NOTE: The above registry key is one path; it has been wrapped for readability.

NOTE: There are keys under MultifunctionAdapter. Only one of these keys should have any sub-keys in it. Open the key that has information in it. If a parallel port has been detected, there is a folder named "0" underneath the ParallelController key. If this entry does not exist in the registry, Windows NT is not detecting the port, and the issue is with your hardware or basic input/output system (BIOS) settings. If this entry does exist, go to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Parallel

Find this value:

Start : REG_DWORD : 0.

Double click this value, change the "0" to a "2", and then click OK. This changes the value to 0x2. Restart your computer. 


Keywords          : ntprint 
Version           : WinNT:4.0
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbprb

Last Reviewed: February 6, 1999