DOCUMENT:Q109698 07-SEP-2001 [winnt] TITLE :Spool File Location is Not Configurable PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:3.1 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbprint kbPrinting ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.1 - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.1 - Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server, version 3.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you print from an application under Windows NT, the Spooler usually stores the print job as a pair of files on your hard disk. The location of these files is not configurable, the Spooler is hard-coded to store the files at %SYSTEMROOT%\SYSTEM32\SPOOL\PRINTERS. CAUSE ===== This is a limitation in the current product. RESOLUTION ========== To resolve this problem, upgrade to Windows NT Workstation or Server version 3.5. There is no workaround to force the Spooler to store spool files in a different location, but you can prevent spooling from applications running on the local computer. In Print Manager, select the printer whose jobs should not be spooled. From the Printer menu, choose Properties, and then select the Details button. In the Printer Details dialog box, select the Print Directly To Ports option. Note that the Print Directly To Ports option is not available for printers that are shared on the network. STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT and Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1. This problem was corrected in Windows NT Workstation or Server version 3.5. Additional query words: prodnt SHD SPL ====================================================================== Keywords : kbprint kbPrinting Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW310 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS310 kbWinNTAdvSerSearch kbWinNTAdvServ310 kbWinNTS310search kbWinNT310Search kbWinNTW310Search Version : 3.1 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2001.