Windows Printing System Prints Incorrect Characters

• Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you print to a local Windows Printing System (WPS) printer on a Windows 95-based computer, incorrect characters may be printed at the top of the first page, followed by several blank pages. Print jobs sent to a remote shared printer are printed correctly.

CAUSE

Windows 95 requires that bidirectional communication be enabled when you are using WPS.

This setting must be enabled even if the port you are printing to is not bidirectional.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem follow these steps:

1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Printers.

2. Use the right mouse button to click the Windows Printing System icon, and then click Properties on the menu that appears.

3. On the Details tab, click Spool Settings.

4. In the Spool Data Format box, click "Enable bidirectional support for this printer."

   NOTE: This setting is unavailable if you are using a shared WPS printer on the network. You must perform these steps on the computer to which the printer is connected.

5. Click OK, and then click OK again.