GeordieSteve Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Grrrr I've had this problem before and it's doing my head in now. We're running 2003 SBS at work with XP clients. We have some really crap DOS based accounts program which everyone uses. Because of this, everyone maps to a printer to LPT1 through a VBS script when they log on. I restarted the server on Sat to connect the UPS. Everything seemed hunky dorey until people tried to print from the accounts package. I've checked it out and "net use" is displaying a network printer mapped to LPT1 but when you try to print from DOS you get the error "was unable to create or access the file 'lpt1'". We had this problem a while back and I thought it seemed to be caused by Windows firewall but that's not installed any more. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Do you have any spaces in the printer name? DOS can't handle the spaces in the printer name and as such will fail.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 The other thing to check in your VBS script is that you delete the lpt1 share before you try mapping another one over to it. Gav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSteve Posted May 16, 2005 Author Share Posted May 16, 2005 no spaces in the printer name and it's over 8 letters but that should be ok on XP. Like I say it was working fine on Friday. yeah I delete the printer and mapping on every logon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Have you tried outputing a plain text file to lpt1.. Something like dir c:\ >lpt1: Just to see if that works? Gav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSteve Posted May 16, 2005 Author Share Posted May 16, 2005 yep. The error message I just told you was when I tried to print from edit. This is a really bad time coz it's pay day this Friday and if this doesn't work... no one gets paid :| Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSteve Posted May 16, 2005 Author Share Posted May 16, 2005 p.s. just tried dir >lpt1 and it says "access denied" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Hmmm, unsure then..... I had a similar problem, but it was due to the way the USB ports are mapped with a virtual lpt port... I'll have a look round, see what I can find for you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSteve Posted May 16, 2005 Author Share Posted May 16, 2005 Cheers bud, much appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Really bizarre question, are you running a domain model, if so, try to do the operation as an administrator, you might find that the user doesn't have the correct permissions to access the hardware directly while setting up the virtual mapping. Gav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitesupraboy2 Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 the machine the printer connects to. can you print a txt file to it from this? Is the driver for the printer, DOS printing compatable? ohh it might seem stupid but is it actually shared in windows! I had similar problem last week with a hospital as we pritn Via Dos and it was network issues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSteve Posted May 16, 2005 Author Share Posted May 16, 2005 All users have local admin rights. I've tried to print from the server when logged in as admin and still have the same issue. Printing from windows isn't a problem. I've tried mapping each and every printer in the place. Only one that works is a guy who has a local lazer printer so he doesn't need lpt1 mapped coz it's hanging off the back of his machine so it must be a network/permission issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitesupraboy2 Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 ok well to rule out that the machines cant see the machine the printer is attached too. in run type: \\[name of machine] this will be the name of the machine the printer is attached too. If you do this you should see the printer shared in the window. Also ping the machine with the printer by IP address. then ping via hostname. If it is succesfull via IP but not Hostname, could point to a DNS issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSteve Posted May 16, 2005 Author Share Posted May 16, 2005 Yeah like I say everyone can print from XP no problems, it's only DOS printing that's the problem. Also the printer maps fine in DOS and shows up in "net use". The only thing it won't do it print from DOS. This "access denied" is obviously got me thinking permissions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitesupraboy2 Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 check the version of the Driver installed supports DOS printing. If they can print from XP but not DOS. then it also points towards this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSteve Posted May 16, 2005 Author Share Posted May 16, 2005 Yes the drivers work with DOS. They have done for months with no problems. This weekend reboot seems to have kicked it off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitesupraboy2 Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 ok, well at a guess someone done a change on the server and to complete the change a reboot was needed, the person never reboot the server and the reboot has completed these changes. had that happen to me before!! Back to basics mate, take a user check their permissions and work ur way through there settings or create a new dummy user to test whether u can print from them) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSteve Posted May 16, 2005 Author Share Posted May 16, 2005 hmmmm I'm the only IT guy. Can't remember changing any permissions lately. I hate IT! lol taa matie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitesupraboy2 Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 thats it u deny it good luck mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 I can agree with that... absolutely hate IT, but it is one of the few things I'm actually very good at... Would love to do something else which paid anywhere near as much... but guess it is a vicious circle. Gav Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Could try having a look in the event log to see if any services failed to start on the last re-boot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSteve Posted May 16, 2005 Author Share Posted May 16, 2005 I've checked the services and all automatic services are running (well except volume shadow copy but I'd expect that). I've even restarted the print spool service but with no joy. I've created a test printer and added just me in with complete full access... and STILL getting "access is denied" in DOS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSteve Posted May 16, 2005 Author Share Posted May 16, 2005 hmmm been advised to enable null sessions. Anyone know what the bloody hell that is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cashpoint Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 With the restart are you sure there were no patches for Windows installed on the restart? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSteve Posted May 16, 2005 Author Share Posted May 16, 2005 Yep there probs was but can't think of any patch that would disable DOS printing(?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.