ErrMsgs After Upgrade:"Port Is Currently..." or "System Error"

 Last reviewed: July 17, 1995
Article ID: Q115404
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11

SYMPTOMS

After you upgrade to Windows for Workgroups 3.11 from Windows 3.1, you receive one of the following error messages when you try to access a modem (or other serial device) or when you try to print:

  • Port is currently in use or is not supported by Windows.

    -or-

  • System Error. The operating system cannot open the specified port.

    -or-

  • LPTx is currently being used by another application

CAUSE

These errors occur if Windows for Workgroups Setup does not correctly change the SYSTEM.INI file to include the new 386 enhanced mode communication device drivers. These errors can also occur under Windows for Workgroups version 3.11 when a third-party communication driver has replaced the COMM.DRV in the [BOOT] section of the SYSTEM.INI file.

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, edit the SYSTEM.INI file and make sure that the following lines exist in the [386Enh] section: 

   device=vcomm.386
   device=serial.386
   device=lpt.386

KBCategory: kbsetup kberrmsg kbhw kb3rdparty
KBSubcategory: wfw wfwg wincomm
Additional reference words: 3.11 virtual device driver (VxD) vicomm.drv

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Last reviewed: July 17, 1995
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