DOCUMENT:Q165962 07-SEP-2001 [winnt] TITLE :WinNT Spooler Service Verifies Printer Drivers Are Correct PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:winnt:4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kbprint ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CAUSE ===== Windows NT printer drivers are stored in specific directories depending on the hardware platform for which they were compiled. For example, drivers for the Intel platform are stored in %Winnt%\System32\Spool\Drivers\W32x86. Prior to Windows NT version 4.0 Service Pack 2, it was possible to install a printer driver into a subdirectory for a specific hardware platform when that printer driver was compiled for a different hardware platform. Installing a printer driver for a hardware platform into the wrong subdirectory in Windows NT now causes incorrect printer output. RESOLUTION ========== When installing printer drivers in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 2, Windows NT Spooler service will verify the drivers are the correct architecture for the platform that is running Windows NT. Windows NT Spooler service will validate the architecture type after the driver has been copied. If the architecture type does not match, the Install dialog box will be displayed again. STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. This problem was corrected in the latest U.S. Service Pack for Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0. For information on obtaining the Service Pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces): S E R V P A C K Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : kbprint Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 Version : winnt:4.0 Issue type : kbbug Solution Type : kbfix ============================================================================= 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.