Serial Printer Communication Fault Pop-up Notification, Functionality Available

ID: Q217069

The information in this article applies to:

SYMPTOMS

When serially connected printers experience a communication break or an out of resource condition such as out of paper on Windows NT 4.0, this is not communicated back to the server through a dialog box or a pop-up message. It simply stops printing to the printer, and continues spooling the print job in the spooler until it is finished being sent from the client. The print job will now sit in the spooler until someone resolves the communication or resource problem. If the print job is restarted before the printer problem is resolved, it is possible for the spooler to think the printer problem is resolved and send the spooled up print job to the bit bucket.


RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or the individual fix. For information on obtaining the latest service pack, please go to:

For information on obtaining the individual fix, contact Microsoft Product Support Services. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:
http://www.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/overview/overview.asp

NOTE: If this product was already installed on your computer when you purchased it from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and you need this fix, please call the Pay Per Incident number listed on the above Web site. If you contact Microsoft to obtain this fix, and if it is determined that you only require the fix you requested, no fee will be charged. However, if you request additional technical support, and if your no-charge technical support period has expired, or if you are not eligible for standard no-charge technical support, you may be charged a non-refundable fee.

For more information about eligibility for no-charge technical support, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q154871 Determining If You Are Eligible for No-Charge Technical Support


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT version 4.0 Service Pack 5.


MORE INFORMATION

The updated code now creates a pop-up message when a communication error occurs. The user can respond to the fault when it has been resolved. If the fault is resolved but you cannot get to the server to respond, the system will automatically retry approximately every 5 seconds, and, if successful, will remove the pop-up message.

Additional query words: 4.00 


Keywords          : kbbug4.00 kbfix4.00 nt4sp5fix 
Version           : winnt:4.0,4.0 SP4
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbbug

Last Reviewed: July 2, 1999