Unable to Change the Specified Driver for a Network Printer

ID: Q234530

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

When you try to change the specified driver on the General tab in a network printer's properties, the following error message may be displayed:

Unable to change to the specified driver. Original settings will be restored.

Additionally, when you print a test page and close the printer's properties, the following error message may be displayed:

Printer settings could not be saved. The printer driver is unknown.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs when Lanman Print Services is listed after third-party print providers in the Order value in the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control/Print/Providers

RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT, you should also update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

To resolve this issue, move Lanman Print Services to the top of the list in the Order value in the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control/Print/Providers

Additional query words:

Keywords :
Version : winnt:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbprb