Cannot Print to WGAO for MS-DOS-Based Computer

 Last reviewed: August 21, 1995
Article ID: Q134429
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

You may not be able to print to a printer that is connected to a computer running the Workgroups Add-On for MS-DOS version 3.11, even though you can successfully connect to shared resources on that computer.

Printing to the printer from WordPad may result in the following error message: 

   There was an error writing to \\<server>\<printer> for "<printer
   name>":  The network printer is no longer available.  Contact your
   system administrator or try using a different printer.  This printer
   will be set to work offline.  To save your print job in the local
   printer queue, click OK.
If you then attempt to set the printer to work online, the following error message is displayed: 

   Cannot connect to this network printer.  Make sure your network is
   working properly and the network share you are connected to exists.

CAUSE

The computer that the printer is connected to is configured to use the basic redirector. The Workgroups Add-On for MS-DOS uses the basic redirector by default.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, configure the computer to use the full redirector by following these steps:

  1. From an MS-DOS prompt, change to the Workgroups Add-On for MS-DOS directory, then type "setup" (without the quotation marks) and press ENTER.

  2. Use the UP ARROW key to select Change Setup Options, and then press ENTER.

  3. Use the UP ARROW key to select Change Redir Options, and then press ENTER.

  4. Select Use The Full Redirector, and then press ENTER.

  5. Restart the computer when prompted to do so.

KBCategory: kbprint kberrmsg
KBSubcategory: wpp95 win95 msnets wgao
Additional reference words: 95

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Last reviewed: August 21, 1995
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