Add Printer Wizard May Not Display List of Printers

 Last reviewed: October 20, 1997
Article ID: Q158356
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you use the Add Printer Wizard to add a new local printer, the Manufacturer and Printer lists may be empty.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the Ntprint.inf file is missing or damaged.

RESOLUTION

Expand the Ntprint.inf file and run CHKDSK to check for inconsistencies on the drive using the following steps:

  1. Rename Ntprint.inf found in the %SystemRoot%\Inf folder.

  2. Schedule a CHKDSK /F on the system partition using the following syntax from the command prompt: 

          CHKDSK /F C:

    NOTE: If the system partition is a large partition, this may take several minutes up to several hours to complete.

  3. Shut down and restart the system.

  4. Expand the INF file using the following syntax from the command prompt: 

          expand <drive>\<platform>\ntprint.in_ %SystemRoot%\Inf\ntprint.inf


          where <drive> is the CD-ROM drive and <platform> is the system
      architecture that you have installed (that is, i386, MIPS, Alpha,
      PPC).

  5. Verify that you now have a complete list of printers by using the Add Printer Wizard. 
Keywords          : ntprint NTSrvWkst kbprint
Version           : WinNT:4.0
Platform          : winnt

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Last reviewed: October 20, 1997
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