Windows Err Msg: Cannot Connect Printers...

Last reviewed: November 23, 1994
Article ID: Q76531
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11

SYMPTOMS

When you choose the Printers icon from the Control Panel in Windows, you may receive the error message:

   Cannot connect printers because the [ports] section of the WIN.INI
   file is missing; Choose cancel and edit the WIN.INI file or choose
   OK to continue.

CAUSE

This error message may be caused by one of the following:

  • The [ports] section of the WIN.INI file is missing. If this is the case, make sure you have a section in the WIN.INI file, as follows:

          [Ports]
          LPT1:=
          LPT2:=
          LPT3:=
          COM1:=9600,n,8,1
          COM2:=9600,n,8,1
          COM3:=9600,n,8,1
          COM4:=9600,n,8,1
          EPT:=
          FILE:=
          LPT1.OS2=
          LPT2.OS2=
    
  • The WIN.INI file is corrupted. In this case, if you have a good backup copy of WIN.INI, copy this file into your Windows directory. If you don't have a good backup copy, expand the file WIN.SRC from the original Microsoft Windows disks to the Windows directory. Use the following command:

          c:\windows\expand a:win.src c:\windows\win.ini
    

    NOTE: Renaming the WIN.INI file does not solve the problem. The [ports] section will still be missing.

  • Microsoft Windows cannot find the WIN.INI file, or does not recognize it. You need to reinstall Windows to create a new WIN.INI.

    If Windows is on a network, you should install Microsoft Windows on your local hard drive. This eliminates any problems that might arise through the "share" and "user" directories.


KBCategory: kbenv
KBSubcategory: win30 win31
Additional reference words: 3.00 win30 win31 3.00a


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Last reviewed: November 23, 1994
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