Printers May Produce Garbled Output After a Print Job Is Deleted

 Last reviewed: February 4, 1998
Article ID: Q160861
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows operating systems 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

SYMPTOMS

Printers such as the Epson ESC/P models or Hewlett Packard (HP) DeskJet printers may produce garbled output on jobs printed after a print job that was canceled.

CAUSE

At the beginning of each print job, a Reset Printer command is sent with the number of bytes of data that will be sent. If the job is canceled before all the data is received by the printer, the printer will interpret the subsequent printer jobs as data instead of printer commands, and will not reset the printer.

RESOLUTION

Turn the printer off and then back on to clear the printers buffer.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT versions 3.1, 3.50, 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.

Additional query words: prodnt 870 1170
Keywords : kbbug3.10 kbbug3.50 kbbug3.51 kbbug4.00 ntprint NTSrvWkst kbprint kbfaq
Version : 3.1 3.5 3.51 4.0
Platform : winnt

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Last reviewed: February 4, 1998
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