Access violations in spooler service when printing a long named print job (246729)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server Edition
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
This article was previously published under Q246729

SYMPTOMS

The Windows NT Server spooler process may generate "Access violation" error messages and stop responding (hang) intermittently. When this occurs, an error message may be displayed, indicating that the print job was not finished successfully because the printer is out of paper or another hardware problem has occurred.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur with a print job with a long name. If the print job name is longer than 200 bytes and the printer also has a hardware problem, the spooler service may not generate an error message. This behavior can occur even if you are logged on locally.

RESOLUTION

To correct this behavior, apply the Service Pack 6 Terminal Edition fix, which is included in the security patch on the following web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/bulletin/ms99-047.asp

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question. The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

DownloadDownload Q243649.exe now (Intel)

DownloadDownload Q243649.exe now (Alpha)

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

119591 How to obtain Microsoft support files from online services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to prevent any unauthorized changes to the file. Note You must be running Service Pack 4 (SP4) or later to apply this fix.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, you can use either of the following methods:
  • Do not print jobs with very long names.
  • Keep the printer online and add paper.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

MORE INFORMATION

For information about setting up a debug session using a modem, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

243649 Unchecked print spooler buffer may expose system vulnerability

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/19/2005
Keywords:kbdownload kbbug kbfix kbgraphxlinkcritical kbQFE KB246729
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