Microsoft KB Archive/941542

= When you try to connect a Windows Vista-based computer to a network printer whose name is not a UNC path, the connection fails =

Article ID: 941542

Article Last Modified on 10/24/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Windows Vista Home Premium
 * Windows Vista Ultimate
 * Windows Vista Business
 * Windows Vista Enterprise
 * Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition

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SYMPTOMS
When you try to connect a Windows Vista-based computer to a network printer whose name is not a valid Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path, the connection fails.

This problem affects some third-party printers. If a third-party printer provider does not use a UNC path to name a printer, you cannot connect the computer to the printer.



CAUSE
This problem occurs because of a design change in Windows Vista.

Windows operating systems use the AddPrinterConnection function to add a connection to a printer on a network. In Windows Vista, a check in this function makes sure that the printer name is a valid UNC path.

However, the printer name may not be a UNC path. For example, you can also name the printer by using a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) such as &quot;ipp://1.2.3.4/ipp&quot;. However, because of the new check in Windows Vista, the connection fails even if the URI is valid.



Update information
The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Windows Vista, 32-bit versions (all languages)
Download the Update for Windows Vista (KB941542) package now.

Windows Vista, 64-bit versions (all languages)
Download the Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systems (KB941542) package now.

Release Date: October 23, 2007

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Prerequisites
No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement
You have to restart the computer after you apply this update.

Update replacement information
This update does not replace any other updates.

Registry information
To use one of the updates in this package, you do not have to make any changes to the registry.

File information
The English version of this update 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 item in Control Panel.

Windows Vista, 64-bit versions


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



MORE INFORMATION
For more information about the AddPrinterConnection function, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa384769.aspx

For more information about software update terminology, 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

Additional query words: Novell Printer Connections iprint

Keywords: kbfix kbqfe kbpubtypekc kbexpertiseadvanced kbhotfixserver KB941542

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