Add Printer Wizard Stops Responding (Hangs) When Searching for Remote Printers

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.51, 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51, 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to browse for printers using the Add Printer Wizard and selecting Network Printer Server and choosing Next, the Connect to Printer dialog box may stop responding (hang). The status displays "Working..." but control never returns to the user.

CAUSE

The above symptom may occur for one of the following reasons:

• Creation of null printer shares on the print server

NullSessionShares can be added for Downlevel print clients who may not have an account or because of a conflicting account. For more information on NullSessionShares, please see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

Q121853 Downlevel Print Jobs Not Redirected Correctly


• Domain names containing a comma (,) in the first character position.

RESOLUTION

Winspool.drv has been redesigned to take these queues into account when browsing the domain for printers.

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4.

Additional query words: spooler lock locks freeze freezes hung hangs

Keywords          : kbprint NT4SP4Fix kbbug4.00 ntprint kbfix4.00.sp4 NTSrvWkst 
Version           : WinNT:4.0
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbbug 

Last Reviewed: April 10, 1999