You receive a "Print monitor is unknown" error when you try to install a printer driver remotely or by using a script on a computer that is running Windows 2000 or Windows XP (870666)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install a printer driver remotely or by using a script on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows 2000 or Microsoft Windows XP, the installation does not succeed, and you receive an error that is similar to the following:
Print monitor is unknown

CAUSE

This problem may occur if a language monitor is not installed on the computer that you are trying to install the printer driver on.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, modify the printer's .inf file to exclude the language monitor. Typically, a language monitor is not used by a network printer. To modify the printer's .inf file, follow these steps:
  1. Log on to the print server where the printer is installed.
  2. Start Windows Explorer.
  3. In the left pane, click the drive:\Windows\Inf folder, where drive:\Windows is the path of the folder where Windows is installed.
  4. In the right pane, right-click the Printer.inf file, where Printer is the name of your printer, and then click Open.

    Note If the .inf file for your printer is not visible, follow these steps:
    1. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
    2. Click the View tab, click Show hidden files and folders, and then click OK.
  5. Add a semicolon at the beginning of the entry that begins with the following text:
    LanguageMonitor=


    Note The semicolon disables the entry.
  6. Close the .inf file, and then click OK to save it.
  7. Quit Windows Explorer.

MORE INFORMATION

In Microsoft Windows, a printer driver has a port monitor that communicates with the printer that is installed on a particular port. Additionally, the driver may have a language monitor that can enable two-way communication between the spooler and the printer. The language monitor can also pass printer control commands using the printer job language. If a language monitor is associated with a printer, it processes data and sends it to the port monitor.

For additional information about how to add a printer by using a command-line command or by using a script, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

189105 How to add printers with no user interaction in Windows

314486 How to add printers with no user interaction in Windows XP

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/18/2004
Keywords:kbtshoot kbprb KB870666 kbAudITPRO
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