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Q309298: Random Blue Screens Appear or SNA Print Service "Hangs"

Article: Q309298
Product(s): Microsoft SNA Server
Version(s): 4.0 SP4
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbDSupportkbbuglist kbfixlist
Last Modified: 08-MAY-2002

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

- Microsoft SNA Server, version 4.0 SP4 
- Microsoft Host Integration Server 2000 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

When you are using third-party monolithic print drivers that are not built to
use Unidrv.dll or Pscript.dll, the SNA Print Service may experience various
problems that can include any of the following:

- Blue screens appear.

- Print Sessions appear to be frozen ("hang") in-session or spooling.

- The SNA Print service experiences access violations with no warnings
  (disappears out of memory).

CAUSE
=====

Some third-party print drivers expect a DEVMODE structure to be a certain size.
Specifically, such drivers expect dmDriverExtra to be set properly. They do not
do any error checking. The SNA Print Service is not setting this field and is
creating a structure smaller than the print driver is expecting. Because the
third-party driver is not doing error checking, it writes beyond the size of the
structure, which causes the problems.


RESOLUTION
==========

SNA Server 4.0
--------------

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to
correct the problem described in this article and should be applied only to
systems experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional
testing at a later time, to further ensure product quality. Therefore, if you
are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait
for the next Microsoft SNA Server version 4.0 service pack that contains this
fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services
to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services
phone numbers and information about support costs, please go to the following
address on the World Wide Web:

  http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are normally incurred for support calls may
be canceled, if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific
update will resolve your problem. Normal support costs will apply to additional
support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in
question.

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or
later:

+----------------------------------+
| File name   | Date       | Time  | 
+----------------------------------+
| Ppd3270.dll | 10/08/2001 | 09:30 | 
+----------------------------------+
| Ppd5250.dll | 10/08/2001 | 09:30 | 
+----------------------------------+
| Winvprt.dll | 10/08/2001 | 09:30 | 
+----------------------------------+

NOTE: Because of file dependencies, the most recent fix that contains the above
files may also contain additional files.



Microsoft Host Integration Server 2000
--------------------------------------

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to
correct the problem described in this article and should be applied only to
systems experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional
testing at a later time, to further ensure product quality. Therefore, if you
are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait
for the next Microsoft Host Integration Server 2000 service pack that contains
this fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services
to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services
phone numbers and information about support costs, please go to the following
address on the World Wide Web:

  http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are normally incurred for support calls may
be canceled, if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific
update will resolve your problem. Normal support costs will apply to additional
support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in
question.

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or
later:

+----------------------------------+
| File name   | Date       | Time  | 
+----------------------------------+
| Ppd3270.dll | 10/08/2001 | 09:30 | 
+----------------------------------+
| Ppd5250.dll | 10/08/2001 | 09:30 | 
+----------------------------------+
| Winvprt.dll | 10/08/2001 | 09:30 | 
+----------------------------------+

NOTE: Because of file dependencies, the most recent fix that contains the above
files may also contain additional files.



WORKAROUND
==========

The only way to work around this problem is to use print drivers that come with
the Microsoft operating system.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft SNA Server version 4.0
and Microsoft Host Integration Server 2000.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The problem may be corrected by querying the third-party print driver for the
proper size it is expecting and setting all fields accordingly.

Additional query words: snaprint, blue screen, hang, in-session

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbDSupport kbbuglist kbfixlist
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbSNAServSearch kbHostIntegServ2000 kbSNAServ400SP4
Version           : :4.0 SP4
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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

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