Err Msg Printing from Adobe PageMaker: General Printer Failure

Last reviewed: August 26, 1996
Article ID: Q130337

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.5 and 3.51
Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.5 and 3.51

SYMPTOMS

When you print from Adobe PageMaker 5.0a under Windows NT, a General Printer Failure error message appears. You can print from other applications.

CAUSE

There is not enough room on the %SYSTEMROOT% drive for the printer spool file.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, either free up additional hard disk space on the %SYSTEMROOT% drive, or set the default printer spool directory to a drive with more free space.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, systemwide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT to correct them. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

To change the default printer spool directory for all printers:

Start Registry Editor.
From the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE subtree, go to the following subkey:
```
      \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers
```
Select the Printers key.
From the Edit menu, choose Add Value.

Add a value using the following information:

      Value Name: DefaultSpoolDirectory
      Data Type:  REG_SZ
      String:     <full path to printer spool directory>

Quit Registry Editor and restart Windows NT.

To change the printer spool directory for a specific printer:

Start Registry Editor.

From the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE subtree, go to the following subkey:

      \SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print
        \Printers\<specific printer>\SpoolDirectory

Select the Printers key.
From the Edit menu, choose Add Value.

Add a value using the following information:

      Value Name: SpoolDirectory
      Data Type:  REG_SZ
      String:     <full path to printer spool directory>

Quit Registry Editor and restart Windows NT.

NOTE: Neither DefaultSpoolDirectory nor SpoolDirectory are set by default. The global default location for all printers spool files is %SYSTEMROOT%\SYSTEM32\SPOOL\PRINTERS. DefaultSpoolDirectory defines a new global default location for all printers to put their spool files. SpoolDirectory defines a new printer-specific location for spool files that overrides the global default on a per-printer basis. The location of the temporary directory (set with the SET TEMP= statement) does not affect the location of the spooler files.

PageMaker is manufactured by Adobe, a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

KBCategory: kbprint kb3rdparty
KBSubcategory: ntprint NTSrvWkst
Additional reference words: 3.50 3.51 prodnt pm5 aldus

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Last reviewed: August 26, 1996
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