NetWare Print Queues and Printers Go Offline

• Microsoft Windows 95
• Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release versions 1, 2, 2.1, 2.5
• Microsoft Windows 98
• Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you try to print to a printer or a print queue that is configured to use the Microsoft Client for NetWare Networks and the Microsoft IPX/SPX-Compatible protocol, you may receive the following error message:

There was an error writing to <\\servername\sharename> for printer <printername>.
The network printer is no longer available. Contact your system administrator, or try using a different printer.
This printer will be set to work offline.
To save your print job in the local printer queue, click OK.

CAUSE

This issue can occur because the Microsoft Client for NetWare Networks working with the Microsoft IPX/SPX-Compatible protocol uses an old NCP single-byte-enabled function call to obtain connection information for the printer.

If the connection number is greater than 255 (FF hexadecimal), the information is requested against an incorrect connection number. For example, the request is for connection number 8 for a connection number value of 264 (108 hexadecimal). If the requested connection is not logged in, the printer is set offline.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, use the Novell NetWare Client 32 update for Windows 95 available from Novell.

This issue is resolved by the following updated file for Windows 95 (all versions):

   NWPP32.DLL  version 4.00.954  dated 05/28/98  9:54am  43,520 bytes 

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in all versions of Microsoft Windows 95 and Microsoft Windows 98. An update to address this problem is now available, but is not fully regression tested and should be applied only to computers experiencing this specific problem. Unless you are severely impacted by this specific problem, Microsoft does not recommend implementing this update at this time. Contact Microsoft Technical Support for additional information about the availability of this update.

MORE INFORMATION

The third-party product discussed in this article is manufactured by a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

Additional query words: novell printer offline 98

Keywords : kb3rdparty kbnetwork kbprint win95
Version : WINDOWS:95
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb