WinNT Spooler Service Verifies Printer Drivers Are Correct

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

CAUSE

Windows NT printer drivers are stored in specific directories depending on the hardware platform for which they were compiled. For example, drivers for the Intel platform are stored in %Winnt%\System32\Spool\Drivers\W32x86.

Prior to Windows NT version 4.0 Service Pack 2, it was possible to install a printer driver into a subdirectory for a specific hardware platform when that printer driver was compiled for a different hardware platform. Installing a printer driver for a hardware platform into the wrong subdirectory in Windows NT now causes incorrect printer output.

RESOLUTION

When installing printer drivers in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 2, Windows NT Spooler service will verify the drivers are the correct architecture for the platform that is running Windows NT.

Windows NT Spooler service will validate the architecture type after the driver has been copied. If the architecture type does not match, the Install dialog box will be displayed again.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. This problem was corrected in the latest U.S. Service Pack for Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0. For information on obtaining the Service Pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):