Windows Err Msg: Control Panel Cannot...Invalid Printer Driver

ID: Q84561

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows versions 3.1, 3.11
Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11
Microsoft Word for Windows, version 2.0a

SYMPTOMS

When you install a new printer driver from your Windows or Windows for Workgroups disks, you receive the following error

Control Panel cannot perform the current operation because <filename> is not a valid printer-driver file.

Make sure that you have a valid printer-driver file, reinstall the printer, and then try again.

where <filename> refers to the name of the printer driver you are trying to install.

NOTE: This error can also occur when you run Control Panel, choose Printers, and then choose Setup.

CAUSE

This error occurs if one or more of the following conditions are true:

EXPAND.EXE or LZEXPAND.DLL is corrupted.

EXPAND.EXE or LZEXPAND.DLL is from a different version of Windows or Windows for Workgroups.

There is an invalid or corrupted printer driver, UNIDRV.DLL file, or other .DLL file in the Windows directory, the Windows SYSTEM subdirectory, or the application directory (even though a valid printer- driver file may be located in another directory).

You are trying to install a Microsoft Windows 3.11 printer driver in Microsoft Windows 3.1.

The version of ver.dll does not match the version of Windows you are using. The date for Win3.1 is 3-10-92, date for Win3.11 is 12-31-93.

The Print commands of many applications may be unavailable (dimmed) if an invalid printer-driver file is located in either the Windows directory or Windows SYSTEM subdirectory.

The EXPAND.EXE and LZEXPAND.DLL files are specific to the different versions of Windows with which they ship. Also, other programs may include updated versions of these files. If you try to uncompress a driver file with an older or mismatched version of EXPAND.EXE or LZEXPAND.DLL, these expansion utilities cannot understand the internal compression algorithm used to shrink the newer drivers and therefore generate the above error message.

RESOLUTION

Search for duplicate EXPAND.EXE and LZEXPAND.DLL files and verify that the EXPAND.EXE and LZEXPAND.DLL files being used have a date consistent with the version of Windows or Windows for Workgroups that is on your system.

If you do not have the current version of these files on your hard disk,or if you suspect these files may be damaged or corrupt, copy or expand them from the installation disks to their appropriate directories. For example, to manually expand LZEXPAND.DLL from the distribution disks, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER:

expand a:\lzexpand.dl_ c:\windows\system\lzexpand.dll

LZEXPAND.DLL is located on the following disks:


   Operating System     1.44-MB 3.5-Inch Disk     1.2-MB 5.25-Inch Disk
   --------------------------------------------------------------------

   Windows 3.1                   Disk 2                      Disk 1
   Windows 3.11                  Disk 2                      Disk 3
   Windows for Workgroups 3.1    Disk 3                      Disk 3
   Windows for Workgroups 3.11   Disk 2                      Disk 2

To manually copy EXPAND.EXE from the distribution disks, type the following at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER:

copy a:\expand.exe c:\windows\expand.exe

EXPAND.EXE is located on the following disks:


   Operating System     1.44-MB 3.5-Inch Disk     1.2-MB 5.25-Inch Disk
   --------------------------------------------------------------------

   Windows 3.1                   Disk 3                      Disk 3
   Windows 3.11                  Disk 4                      Disk 5
   Windows for Workgroups 3.1    Disk 6                      Disk 8
   Windows for Workgroups 3.11   Disk 6                      Disk 6

Delete or rename the printer driver files in the Windows SYSTEM directory (for example, EPSON9.DRV, DMCOLOR.DLL, UNIDRV.DLL, and UNIDRV.HLP).

Check the PATH statement in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file to ensure that the Windows directory is the first directory on the path. For example:
path=c:\windows;c:\word;c:\dos;c:\

Restart Windows. (This is important because Windows must be restarted for the new LZEXPAND.DLL file to be loaded into memory.)

Reinstall the printer-driver file by doing one of the following:
- Choose the Printers icon from Control Panel. Choose the Add button and then choose the Install button.
- Run Print Manager. From the Options menu, choose Printer Setup, choose the Add button, then choose the Install button.

If UNIDRV.DLL is corrupt you may need to manually expand UNIDRV.DLL from disk 4 to the windows\system directory then start WFW and install the apropriate printer driver.

If the error still occurs, rename WIN.INI to WIN.INX. If using Win 3.X or WFW 3.1, create a new WIN.INI file (see Q96698); if using WFW 3.11, copy WIN.CLN to WIN.INI. Restart Windows and repeat the steps for installing the driver.

NOTE: If you are trying to install a Microsoft Windows 3.11 printer driver in Windows 3.1, use the disks that were shipped with the version of Windows you currently have installed.

MORE INFORMATION

Other possible error messages that may result from an invalid printer driver include the following.

Write

When starting Windows Write (WRITE.EXE), you receive the following message:

Cannot print.

Make sure that your printer is connected properly, and use the Printers icon in Control Panel to verify that the printer is configured properly.

Word 2.0a for Windows

The following error may be generated when you choose Printer Setup from the File menu, and choose the Setup button:

There is a printer error.

Additional query words: 2.00a 3.10 winword dll unidrv.dll win31 can not can't wfw wfwg KBSetup winsetup windrvr 5/1/90 10/31/90

Keywords :
Version : WINDOWS:2.0a,3.1,3.11
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :