Error messages in Print Manager

When there is a problem printing from Windows NT, often print jobs stay in Print Manager with ambiguous messages like Printer Error or Permission denied. If the printer is connected via TCP/IP, there is probably a problem with the way LPR was set up.

Begin troubleshooting by opening the Event Viewer in the Administrative Tools program group. When it opens, click Log, scroll down, and select Application. Look at any of the error messages that say LPR Print Monitor. Double-clicking the error message tells you more information about the error. The following topics deal with specific errors reported in the Event Viewer.

Printer PS on host IP-address is rejecting your request

At the MS-DOS command prompt in Windows NT, type the ping command in the following format:

ping IP-address

For example:

ping 192.1.1.2

 

• If the printer does not reply or the request times out, either the printer does not have an IP address, or the NT host cannot find the printer.
• If the printer does not have an address, assign one as described in your printer's networking setup guide.
• If the printer has an IP Address, your printer could have a faulty network connection or a defective network card.
• If the printer does respond, disconnect the printer from the network and send the ping command again.
• If you get a response this time, there is a duplicate IP address on the network. Make sure that all devices on the network have a unique IP address.
• If you do not get a response this time, the printer's IP address is valid, but LPR may be disabled on the printer. Print a Configuration Page and look under LPR. For instructions on how to print a Configuration Page and enable protocols, see your printer's networking setup guide.

Printer printer-name on host IP-address is rejecting your request

The remote queue name is not correctly set. Refer to Step 2 in the appropriate procedure:

• Windows NT 4.0 driver on Windows NT 4.0 server. See Creating an LPR port.
• Windows NT 3.x driver. See Creating an LPR port.

Printer PS on host IP-address is unreachable

or

The LPR print monitor failed to open a temporary file while spooling output for port IP-address:PS

With this problem, you can print all PostScript jobs when logged into the NT Server as administrator, but users cannot print. Users cannot print because they lack the permissions to spool to the system file areas.

This problem is frequently encountered after applying Service Pack 2, 3, or 4 to a Windows NT 3.51 print server installed on an Windows NT File System (NTFS) partition. Windows for Workgroups, Windows 95, and other clients will no longer be able to print to shared LPR printers (print queues on Windows NT which are using LPR to reach their destination).

Service Pack updates change the permissions of the SPOOL and PRINTERS sub-directories to be read-only (write-protected). Also, an administrator could easily do this (for security reasons) without a Service Pack Update.

To fix this problem in Windows NT 4.0:

1. Log in as administrator.
2. Double-click My Computer.
3. Open the folder C:\Winnt\system32.
4. Set permissions on the spool folder:
1. Click the right mouse button on the spool folder.
2. In the pull-down menu, click the left mouse button on Sharing; this displays the Printer Properties dialog box.
3. Click Security.
4. Click Permissions; this displays the Directory Permissions dialog box.
5. In the Directory Permissions dialog box, click Everyone. From the Type of Access pull-down list, select Full Control.
6. To close the Directory Permissions dialog box, click OK.
7. To close the Printer Properties dialog box, click OK.
5. Set permissions on the Printers folder:
1. In the C:\Winnt\system32 folder, open the spool folder.
2. Click the right mouse button on the Printers folder.
3. In the pull-down menu, click the left mouse button on Sharing; this displays the spoolProperties dialog box.
4. Click Security.
5. Click Permissions; this displays the Directory Permissions dialog box.
6. In the Directory Permissions dialog box, click Everyone. From the Type of Access pull-down list, select Full Control.
7. To close the Directory Permissions dialog box, click OK.
8. To close the spoolProperties dialog box, click OK.

To fix this problem in Windows NT 3.1:

1. Log in as administrator.
2. In the Main group, double-click File Manager.
3. Open the folder C:\WINNT35\system32.
4. Set permissions on the spool folder:
1. Click the spool folder.
2. From the Security menu, select Permissions; this displays the Directory Permissions dialog box.
3. In the Directory Permissions dialog box, click Everyone. From the Type of Access pull-down list select Full Control.
4. To return to File Manager, click OK.
5. Set permissions on the Printers folder:
1. In the C:\WINNT35\system32 folder, open the spool folder.
2. Click the Printers folder.
3. From the Security menu, select Permissions; this displays the Directory Permissions dialog box.
4. In the Directory Permissions dialog box, click Everyone. From the Type of Access pull-down list, select Full Control.
5. To return to File Manager, click OK.