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Q217069: Serial Printer Communication Fault Pop-up Notification Available

Article: Q217069
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:4.0,4.0 SP4
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbWinNT400sp5fix
Last Modified: 16-MAY-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 4.0, 4.0 SP4 
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 4.0, 4.0 SP4 
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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 software update. For information on obtaining the latest service
pack, please go to:

- http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/ServicePacks/

-or-

- Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack

For information on obtaining the individual software update, 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://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS


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

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Keywords          : kbWinNT400sp5fix 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW400sp4 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400sp4 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400
Version           : winnt:4.0,4.0 SP4
Hardware          : ALPHA x86
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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