Windows NT Printing Err Msg: The Requested Resource Is In Use

ID: Q127027

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you print to a locally attached printer, the following error message appears:

Error writing to LPT1: for <application name>. The requested resource is in use. Do you wish to retry or cancel the job?
If you select Retry, the print job finishes properly.

NOTE: If this printer is shared, remote client computers do not experience this behavior.


WORKAROUND

To work around this problem:

Windows NT 4.0

  1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.


  2. From the File menu, click Server Properties.


  3. On the Port tab, select the printer port (LPT1:, LPT2:, or LPT3:).


  4. Click Configure Port.


  5. Set the Transmission Retry value to 90 or greater.


Windows NT 3.5x

  1. Run Print Manager and click Properties from the Printer menu.


  2. Click Settings and set the Transmission Retry value to 90 or greater.



STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT Workstation and Server versions 3.5, 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: spool

Keywords : kbprint kbbug4.00 ntprint kbbug3.50 kbbug3.51 NTSrvWkst
Version : WinNT:3.5,3.51,4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug


Last Reviewed: February 26, 1999
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