ErrMsg: Error Writing to LPT1: System Cannot Find File Specified

 Last reviewed: March 5, 1998
Article ID: Q150498

The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51 and 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51 and 4.0

SUMMARY

When you try to print to a local printer attached to the parallel port, the following stop error message is reported by WIN32 Spooler: 

   Error Writing to LPT1: for document <application name>
   <path \ file name>: the system cannot find the file specified.
For example, you try to print the file Probrep.txt from Notepad, and following stop error message appears: 

   Error Writing to LPT1: for document notepad
   C:\winnt35\system32\probrep.txt: the system cannot find the file
   specified.
This error is generated any time the Parallel.sys driver is not started. This can happen if NTDETECT does not find a valid parallel port on your system, or if the parallel device is disabled or stopped with the Devices tool in Control Panel.

Furthermore, if the parallel device driver is not started, and you attempt to start it manually, error 20 (hardware not detected) appears.

RESOLUTION

Jumper the motherboard to use the standard parallel port or check the port setting in CMOS to ensure Windows NT can detect the parallel port for printing.

MORE INFORMATION

Some newer motherboards have the capability to support enhanced parallel port (EPP), Enhanced Communication Port (ECP), and standard parallel port settings. This is usually a jumper on the motherboard rather than a system BIOS option.

Windows NT versions 4.0 and earlier do not support EPP or ECP bi- directional communication ports and will cause the parallel port detection to fail if set to use either one of these standards.

For more information on EPP and ECP support, please refer to the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article: 

   ARTICLE ID: Q125307
   TITLE     : EPP and ECP Bi-Directional Port Support

Additional query words: prodnt 4.00 3.51
Version : 3.10 3.50 3.51
Platform : winnt

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Last reviewed: March 5, 1998
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