Device Contention Errors with Parallel Port Network Cards (90926)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.1
- Microsoft Windows for Workgroups 3.11
This article was previously published under Q90926 SYMPTOMS
If you use Windows for Workgroups with a network interface card (NIC) that
plugs into the parallel port, device contention errors may occur. (Only two
supported NICs plug into the parallel port: the Xircom Pocket Ethernet I
and II.)
CAUSE
These errors occur because Windows for Workgroups sees the LPT port as
being used by two different resources: the network and the printer.
WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, use one of the methods below.
Workaround 1
If you do not need the LPT port for local printing, you can disable the
check for device contention by removing the following line in the
SYSTEM.INI file:
DEVICE=VPD.386
Disabling VPD.386 doesn't affect the ability of Windows for Workgroups
to print over the network. However, if you are printing locally, no
warning appears and printouts may have garbled characters, or you may
experience network communication problems.
Workaround 2
In Control Panel, choose the 386 Enhanced Mode icon. Set the Idle Time
for the port in question to zero (0). This turns off VPD trapping for
that port.
| Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 10/13/2003 |
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| Keywords: | KB90926 |
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