KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q78789: Windows Err Msg: Could Not Print Page <x>

Article: Q78789
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 02-NOV-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows versions 3.0, 3.0a 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

You may receive a printing error message when you try to print from a Windows
application under Windows 3.0 or 3.0a. For example, you may receive the
following error message in the Write:

  Could not print page - Error:-1.

This problem does not occur with later versions of Windows.

CAUSE
=====

This may be caused by the file DOSSHELL.SWP being in the directory pointed to by
the SET TEMP= setting in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. The DOSSHELL.SWP file is created
in this directory if the following statements are both true:

- DOSSHELL has been executed and then shelled out by pressing SHIFT+F9.

- Multiple instances of the DOSSHELL program have been entered and are running.

RESOLUTION
==========

If multiple instances of DOSSHELL are started while Windows is running, use the
following procedure to close the multiple instances of DOSSHELL to remove the
DOSSHELL.SWP file from the temporary directory:

1. Close Windows.

2. At the command prompt, type

  exit

  to go into the DOSSHELL program.

3. Close the DOSSHELL by pressing ALT+F to open the File menu, and press X to
  exit.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 above until you do not go into the DOSSHELL program when
  you type:

  exit

This should remove the DOSSHELL.SWP file from the temporary directory.

NOTE: If the computer has been turned off while the DOSSHELL.SWP file was in the
temporary directory, the above procedure may not remove the file.

The DOSSHELL.SWP file is created with a read-only attribute. The file can not be
deleted until you clear the read-only attribute. The following command can be
used to clear the read-only attribute of the file so that it can be deleted:

  Attrib -r dosshell.swp

Additional query words: shell Dos 5.0 Windows 3.00 3.00a dosshell err msg

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin300 kbWin300a
Version           : WINDOWS:3.0,3.0a

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.