Printer Operators Cannot Create DLC Ports

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

SYMPTOMS

While logged in as a Print Operator, a user can create a printer and seems to create a DLC port for that printer. The following two scenarios may happen, depending on the version of Windows NT that is being used and whether the printer driver is already loaded on the system:

Windows NT 3.51

If the printer driver was on the system, the printer installs and seems to work until the next time the system is shut down and restarted. After restarting, the printer status will show as unknown. The printer properties will be unavailable and the printer Security Permissions and Owner options will give the following error:

   STOP
   Cannot retrieve the security descriptor for this printer.

   Noncritical Error
   An error has occurred.

   Setup was unable to set the security information for
   C:\WINNT35\SYSTEM32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\RASDDU (off the screen)
   You may continue (ignoring the error), retry the operation, or exit
   Setup.
   If you choose to ignore the error, Setup may not be able to completely
   and/or correctly install the software. If you exit, you will have to
   repeat the Setup process from the beginning.

   Ignore           Retry          Exit Setup

Windows NT 4.0

The printer and port will seem to install and work fine but, as above, when the system is shut down and restarted, the port disappears. The printer will state that it "Failed to open, retrying," and the following event will be logged:

   Event 1040
   Source hpmon
   Type Warning

   Description Updating the registry failed (0x5).  Make sure HP Monitor
   can access the registry.

CAUSE

Printer Operators can create printers but do not have sufficient access to the registry to create new printer ports.

Print Operators are also unable to create an LPR port. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q140084
   TITLE     : Permissions Error Creating an LPR Printer

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem:

• Have the Administrator create the port before the Printer Operator creates a printer.

  -or-

• Use the following steps to modify the default registry permissions to give Print Operators the ability to create a DLC port.

  WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system- wide 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.

  1. Log on to the computer as an Administrator and run Regedt32.exe.

  2. Go to the following registry location:

           HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print
  
     3. Select the Monitors key under the Print key
  
     4. On the Security menu, click Permissions.
  
     5. Click Add, and then select the Print Operators group; set the Type of
        Access to Full Control and then click OK.
  
     6. Click the Replace Permissions on Existing Subkeys option, and then
        click OK.
  
     7. Stop and then restart the Spooler service.
  
     Print Operators will now be able to add a DLC Port.
  
  

STATUS