Microsoft KB Archive/156958

= Serial Service Won't Stop with Serial Printer Installed =

Article ID: 156958

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q156958



SYMPTOMS
When a serial printer is installed on Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0 workstation or server, the serial service cannot be stopped, even when there are no jobs being printed.



CAUSE
The spooler design assumes that it exclusively holds a port when a printer is connected and a print queue is created. The design does not allow for other applications to do bidirectional communication with devices.



RESOLUTION
A new version of Localmon.dll has been developed that allows the serial service to be stopped, even when a serial printer is attached. Once the serial service is stopped, other applications can access the port. This version of Localmon.dll is not needed in most environments.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. This problem was corrected in the latest Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 U.S. Service Pack. For information on obtaining the service pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

S E R V P A C K

Additional query words: prodnt

Keywords: kbnetwork kbprint KB156958

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