Microsoft KB Archive/893173

= &quot;There was an error trying to open the following parallel port&quot; error message when you start a virtual machine in Virtual PC 2004 Service Pack 1 =

Article ID: 893173

Article Last Modified on 11/15/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 Service Pack 1

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SYMPTOMS
After you update your Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 installation to Virtual PC 2004 Service Pack 1 (SP1), and then you start a virtual machine, you may receive the following error message:

There was an error trying to open the following parallel port on your physical computer: \\.\NONSPOOLED_LPT1

Before this port can be connected to your virtual machine, you must verify that a device is attached to the port, and that it is not being used by another process.



CAUSE
This problem occurs when both the guest operating system on the virtual machine and the host operating system are configured to use the LPT1 parallel port. After you install Virtual PC 2004 SP1, only one operating system can use the LPT1 parallel port. If the host operating system uses the LPT1 parallel port, the guest operating system cannot use this port.



RESOLUTION
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.   Date         Time            Size       File name -  10-Feb-2005  19:16           2,190,336  Vpc2004qfe893173_msdn.msp 21-Feb-2005 16:33           3,455,488  Vpc2004qfe893173_update.msp To apply this hotfix, you must modify each virtual machine file (.vmc) to include the following command:

true

To do this, follow these steps:  Locate the virtual machine file that you want to modify. Typically, these .vmc files reside in the My Virtual Machines folder that is located in the My Documents folder. Click the .vmc file, and then on the Edit menu, click Copy. On the Edit menu, click Paste. This creates a copy of the .vmc file. Right-click the original .vmc file, point to Open With, and then click Choose Program. In the list of Programs, click Notepad.

Note Click to clear the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file check box if it is selected.</li> Click OK.</li> In Notepad, click Edit, and then click Find.</li> Type super_io, and then click Find Next.</li> Locate the following set of command lines:

'''<parallel_port id=&quot;0&quot;>

<port_name type=&quot;string&quot;>LPT1</port_name>

<port_type type=&quot;integer&quot;>1</port_type>

</parallel_port>'''

</li> Position your pointer at the end of the <port_type type=&quot;integer&quot;>1</port_type> command line, and then press ENTER.</li> Type the following new line:

true</port_shared>

The command lines now appear as follows:

'''<parallel_port id=&quot;0&quot;>

<port_name type=&quot;string&quot;>LPT1</port_name>

<port_type type=&quot;integer&quot;>1</port_type>

true</port_shared>

</parallel_port>'''

</li> Save the .vmc file, and then quit Notepad.</li> Repeat steps 1 through 13 for each .vmc file that you want to modify.</li></ol>

<div class="status_section">

STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.

<div class="moreinformation_section">

MORE INFORMATION
For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Keywords: kbqfe kbhotfixserver kbfix kbbug KB893173

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