Problems Adding or Deleting Printer Ports in Print Manager

• Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
• Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1

    serious, system-wide problems that may require you to
    reinstall Windows NT to correct them. Microsoft cannot
    guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of
    Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own
    risk.

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Windows NT or Advanced Server, the Print To Additional Ports box in the Printer Details dialog box is for printer spooling. If you delete a printer port, you cannot retrieve it.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, you have to add the deleted port back through the Registry Database, as shown below.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

1. Start the Registry Editor (REGEDT32.EXE) and go to the following subkey in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE on Local Machine subtree:

         Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Ports
   

2. From the Edit menu, choose Add Value.

3. In the Value Name box, type the printer port that was deleted (for example, COM1: or LPT1:). Retain the default value in the Data box (REG_SZ), and choose OK.

4. In the String box, type the appropriate settings that correspond to the port you typed in the Value Name box, for example:

         9600,n,8,1 for COM ports
         No entries for LPT ports
   

5. Exit the Registry Editor. Log off and log on.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.1. We are researching this problem and will post new information here as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

Below are the default entries that appear in the Registry Database under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE on Local Machine subtree for the following subkey:

   Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Ports

   Value name    Data type    String value
   ---------------------------------------

   COM1:         REG_SZ       9600,n,8,1
   COM2:         REG_SZ       9600,n,8,1
   COM3:         REG_SZ       9600,n,8,1
   COM4:         REG_SZ       9600,n,8,1
   FILE:         REG_SZ       empty
   LPT1:         REG_SZ       empty
   LPT2:         REG_SZ       empty
   LPT3:         REG_SZ       empty