Microsoft KB Archive/287284

= When You Try to Print, Error Message Reports, 'Test Page Fail to Print the Handle Is Invalid' =

Article ID: 287284

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 Enterprise Edition

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This article was previously published under Q287284



IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry



SYMPTOMS
When you stop and restart the Spooler service, and you then try to print a file, you may receive the following error message:

Test page fail to print the handle is invalid



CAUSE
This behavior can occur because some printer ports disappear after you stop and then restart the Spooler service.



RESOLUTION
To resolve the behavior, remove from the registry any LPR port names that have invalid characters:

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

 Start Registry Editor (Regedt32). Locate and click the following entry in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors\LPR Port\Ports\

 Delete any of the keys that contain LPR port names that include invalid characters. Restart the computer.

Keywords: kbprb KB287284

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