Power Users, Print Operators May Get Errors Installing Drivers

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

SUMMARY

Power users and print operators may receive the following error when installing print drivers:

   An error has occurred copying (driver file).

This is not a critical error, even though the dialog box has popped up. The error occurs because the file already exists, and the system has denied access to copy this file over the currently existing file. To continue, select Skip File and proceed.

MORE INFORMATION

It is possible to get the above error message on any error that does not allow a copy command to complete. In the above scenario, the error is received when an attempt is made to replace a file that is currently in use. Normally the printer drivers are not in use if they are not installed already. Even with printer drivers that are being reinstalled, the file is only used for short periods of time in a read-only mode. The above file is a print monitor. Print monitors are used to communicate directly between the print spooler and the printing device. This causes the monitor to always be in use if the print spooler service is in use.

By default security, the setup routines built into Windows NT only allow an administrator to replace files in use. This is done to keep other users from replacing system files. Microsoft is researching methods to allow controlled access to updating files. These methods are expected to become available in future versions of Windows NT.

Currently several methods are available to resolve the error message shown above:

1. When the error is displayed, select Skip File. (The file already exists and probably does not need to be copied over.)

2. Edit the file Ntprint.inf located in your Windows NT system \INF directory.

   A. Open this file using NOTEPAD. (It is advisable to make a backup copy

         of this file in case of errors.)
   

   B. To locate the entries that point to the file you are receiving errors

         on, open the Edit menu and click Find.
   

   C. Remove the entries. This can be done for a specific printer (noted

         above each section in brackets [ ] ) or for all entries.
   

   D. Save the file.

3. Edit the registry to add permissions to the key where the commands are stored until the next reboot.

   A. Run Regedt32.exe.

   B. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session
      Manager.

   C. Highlight this key and select Security, then Permissions.

   D. Add the groups that you wish to be able to install drivers without
      error with FULL Control.