Windows NT Printing Err Msg: The Requested Resource Is In Use

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51 and 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51 and 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you print to a locally attached printer, the following error message appears:

   Error writing to LPT1: for <application name>.
   The requested resource is in use.
   Do you wish to retry or cancel the job?

NOTE: If this printer is shared, remote client computers do not experience this behavior.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem:

Windows NT 4.0

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

2. From the File menu, click Server Properties.

3. On the Port tab, select the printer port (LPT1:, LPT2:, or LPT3:).

4. Click Configure Port.

5. Set the Transmission Retry value to 90 or greater.

Windows NT 3.5x

1. Run Print Manager and click Properties from the Printer menu.

2. Click Settings and set the Transmission Retry value to 90 or greater.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT Workstation and Server versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.