LPT redirection and XP Sp2

[Chris Gorringe]

We have a Windows 2000 server network with about 25 XP machines on it. We
also have a Novell server and some of us use this as well. Until now
everyone has been running 2000 Pro or XP SP1 as the client and has been
printing to 3 networked printers using either UNC share names or LPT
redirection for a DOS app.

I have had to rebuild my machine and I decided to try SP2 as I hadn't had
any problems with 3 previous stand alone machines. The one problem that I am
having is that after I have done a net use LPTx \\server\printer, the LPT
port appears to be redirected using a net use to check it, but if I try to
print anything to it, I get "Access is Denied". Even if I logon as the
network administrator, I get this error but nobody else is suffereing so I
can only presume that it is a SP2 issue or something.

Anybody else seen this problem and if so, what's the cure.

Hopefully thanks

Chris

 

[Malke]

We have a Windows 2000 server network with about 25 XP machines on it.
We also have a Novell server and some of us use this as well. Until
now everyone has been running 2000 Pro or XP SP1 as the client and has
been printing to 3 networked printers using either UNC share names or
LPT redirection for a DOS app.

I have had to rebuild my machine and I decided to try SP2 as I hadn't
had any problems with 3 previous stand alone machines. The one problem
that I am having is that after I have done a net use LPTx
\\server\printer, the LPT port appears to be redirected using a net
use to check it, but if I try to print anything to it, I get "Access
is Denied". Even if I logon as the network administrator, I get this
error but nobody else is suffereing so I can only presume that it is a
SP2 issue or something.

I'm not a printer expert by any means, but one thing that happens
specific to SP2 is that the Windows Firewall is enabled automatically.
You probably have a corporate firewall in place and don't need
individual firewalls on the workstations, so you should disable the
Windows Firewall. If you *do* use firewalls on the workstations, make
sure you enable File & Printer Sharing in the Windows Firewall's
Exceptions.

Malke

 

[Chris Gorringe]

Thanks for this, however, I have found out that there were two problems.
Firstly, the Access Denied error was caused by the network when printing to
the printers through the Windows 2K server and it appears that everyone else
IS having the same problem but they hadn't realized. The second problem is
that the Bidirectional flag was set on the printers. With SP1 printing to a
Novell printer, this had no effect but with SP2 it does appear to cause the
spooler to hang. Unchecking the birectional flag allowed the printers to
function as they did before.

 

[Malke]

Thanks for this, however, I have found out that there were two
problems. Firstly, the Access Denied error was caused by the network
when printing to the printers through the Windows 2K server and it
appears that everyone else IS having the same problem but they hadn't
realized. The second problem is that the Bidirectional flag was set on
the printers. With SP1 printing to a Novell printer, this had no
effect but with SP2 it does appear to cause the spooler to hang.
Unchecking the birectional flag allowed the printers to function as
they did before.

I'm so glad you got it sorted. Thanks for letting us know. Others will
benefit because you took the time to post the solution.

Malke