Microsoft KB Archive/130650

= Unreliable Printing When Shared Printer Name Contains Spaces =

Article ID: 130650

Article Last Modified on 1/19/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows 95
 * Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition

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This article was previously published under Q130650



If this article does not describe your hardware-related issue, please see the following Microsoft Web site to view more articles about hardware:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/w98?sid=460



SYMPTOMS
You cannot print to a network printer, or printing is unreliable from some programs in Windows 95. When this occurs, you may receive the error message "Cannot open printer driver" or "Cannot connect to printer. Check printer setup."



CAUSE
This problem can occur if the name of the shared network server or printer model you are using contains spaces. The problem occurs because some programs incorrectly parse the device lines for network printers in the WIN.INI file.

Programs that use the device lines for network printers instead of using COMMDLG.DLL incorrectly treat spaces in names as delimiters between share names.



RESOLUTION
To correct this problem, use either of the following methods:


 * Remove the spaces from the name of the print server or shared printer.
 * Capture a parallel port to the shared printer, then install the printer to that port. To capture a port, follow these steps:


 * Click Start, and then click Help.
 * Click the Index tab.
 * Type "capture" (without quotation marks).
 * Click the "capturing printer ports" topic, and then click Display.
 * Follow the instructions in the Help topic.

Although Windows 95 does allow you to include spaces in share names, it is not recommended. You may want to use an underscore (_) instead of a space. For example, instead of the share name "\\PRINTER MODEL," use "\\PRINTER_MODEL."

Additional query words: HWPRNTS

Keywords: kbenv kberrmsg kbfaq kbnetwork kbprb kbprint KB130650

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