Microsoft KB Archive/191516

Knowledge Base

Cannot print in Windows

Article ID: 191516

Article Last Modified on 1/23/2007

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
• Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
• Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Windows 95

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This article was previously published under Q191516

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

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

SYMPTOMS

You may experience one or more of the following printing-related symptoms:

• You are unable to print from Windows-based programs, but you are able to print from MS-DOS-based programs (such as Edit.com).
• If you attempt to print from WordPad, you receive the following error message:

  The printer could not be found.

• The Print command on the File menu in Notepad is unavailable.
• When you try to print, you may receive one or more of the following error messages:

  An error occurred during this operation

  Could not start print job

  Windows was unable to print the test page. Would you like to begin troubleshooting now?

Note To more effectively search the Microsoft Knowledge Base, use keywords that relate to your issue. If you are searching for troubleshooting information that is not mentioned in this article, search the Microsoft Knowledge Base again by using keywords that are listed in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

242450 How to Query the Microsoft Knowledge Base Using Keywords

You may also receive the following message when you attempt to install a new printer:

Error 38: Unable to Update Ini File (C:\Windows\Win.ini)

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the Win.ini file has the read-only attribute, and this can occur after you upgrade to Windows 98.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, remove the read-only attribute from the Win.ini file, and then install the printer driver again to update the Win.ini file:

1. Click Start, point to Find, and then click Files Or Folders.
2. In the Named box, type win.ini, and then click Find Now.
3. In the list of found files, right-click the Win.ini file, and then click Properties.
4. Click to clear the Read-Only check box, and then click OK.
5. Quit the Find tool, and then restart your computer.
6. Install the printer driver again:
   1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
   2. Right-click your printer, and then click Properties.
   3. On the Details tab, click New Driver.
   4. In the Manufacturers box, click your printer's manufacturer, and then click the appropriate model in the Models box.
   5. Click OK, and then click OK again.

Additional query words: HWPRNTS w98pttop grayed gray out grey greyed unavailable

Keywords: kbenv kberrmsg kbfaq kbprb kbprint KB191516

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