Unable to Change the Specified Driver for a Network Printer (234530)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0

This article was previously published under Q234530

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you try to change the specified driver on the General tab in a network printer's properties, the following error message may be displayed:

Unable to change to the specified driver. Original settings will be restored.

Additionally, when you print a test page and close the printer's properties, the following error message may be displayed:

Printer settings could not be saved. The printer driver is unknown.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs when Lanman Print Services is listed after third-party print providers in the Order value in the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control/Print/Providers

RESOLUTION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To resolve this issue, move Lanman Print Services to the top of the list in the Order value in the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control/Print/Providers

Modification Type:	Major	Last Reviewed:	6/29/2004
Keywords:	kbprb KB234530