You receive an error message if you try to print a document on Windows 2000-based and Windows XP-based computers (873396)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

SYMPTOMS

If you try to print a document, you experience one of more of the following symptoms:
  • If you try to print a document by using Microsoft Excel, you receive the following error message:
    Current printer is unavailable. Select another printer
    .
  • If you try to print a document by using Microsoft Power Point, you receive the following error message:
    No printers are installed
    .
  • If you try to print a document by using Lotus Notes, you receive the following error message:
    Insufficient memory
These symptoms occur if the following conditions are true:
  • You try to print a document from a Microsoft Office program or Lotus Notes program.
  • You try to print a document from a Microsoft Windows 2000-based or Microsoft Windows XP-based computer.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because you do not have the permissions that are required to create or re-create a parsed binary printer description file (.bud).

Note The .bud file is a binary version of the generic printer description file (.gpd) that is included with many printer drivers. Additionally, the .bud file is located in the Windows\System32\Spooler\Drivers\W32x86\3 folder.

In some scenarios, multiple printers share common .gpd files. For example, multiple printers may share the Stdnames.gpd and the Ttfsub.gpd files. These shared common .gpd files may be updated or may be out of date. If the shared common .gpd file is updated or is out of date, the .bud file must be recreated.

The problem that is described in this article does not occur if you have the correct permissions to the Windows\System32\Spooler\Drivers\W32x86\3 folder. The problem does not occur because the .bud file is successfully re-created the next time that the user uses the printer.

Typically, the Spooler service generates the .bud file when the related .gpd printer files are updated. When the problem that is described in this article occurs, the Spooler service cannot update the .bud files for existing printers.

RESOLUTION

Windows 2000 hotfix information

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 phone 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.

Prerequisites

Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 is required to install this hotfix

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes. The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.
   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   24-Mar-2004  02:17  5.0.2195.6824      42,256  Basesrv.dll      
   21-Sep-2003  00:45  5.0.2195.6824     236,304  Cmd.exe          
   05-Aug-2004  18:20  0.2.0.1           138,000  Faxui.dll        
   19-Jun-2003  20:05  5.0.2195.6660     233,744  Gdi32.dll        
   24-Mar-2004  02:17  5.0.2195.6897     742,160  Kernel32.dll     
   05-Aug-2004  18:20  5.0.2195.6965     256,784  Localspl.dll     
   24-Mar-2004  02:17  5.0.2195.6824      54,544  Mpr.dll          
   05-Aug-2004  18:20  5.0.2195.6958     335,120  Msgina.dll       
   24-Mar-2004  02:17  5.0.2195.6892      90,264  Rdpwd.sys
   04-Jun-2004  23:13  5.0.2195.6935   5,887,488  Sp3res.dll       
   05-Aug-2004  18:20  5.0.2195.6938      80,144  Spoolss.dll      
   24-Mar-2004  02:17  5.0.2195.6897     403,216  User32.dll       
   05-Aug-2003  22:14  5.0.2195.6794     385,808  Userenv.dll      
   05-Aug-2004  01:07  5.0.2195.6965   1,632,528  Win32k.sys
   19-Jun-2003  20:05  5.0.2195.6681      97,040  Win32spl.dll     
   11-Mar-2004  02:37  5.0.2195.6898     181,520  Winlogon.exe     
   05-Aug-2004  18:20  5.0.2195.6958     244,496  Winsrv.dll       
   24-Mar-2004  02:17  5.0.2195.6897     742,160  Kernel32.dll     
   05-Aug-2004  01:07  5.0.2195.6965   1,632,528  Win32k.sys
   05-Aug-2004  18:20  5.0.2195.6958     244,496  Winsrv.dll       
   05-Aug-2004  18:27                     13,004  Kb873396.cat

Windows XP Hotfix Information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows XP service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, 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.

Prerequisites

Windows XP Service Pack 1 or later is required to install this hotfix.

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes. The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.Windows XP Service Pack 1
   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   27-Aug-2004  17:17  5.1.2600.1587     307,200  Localspl.dll     
   27-Aug-2004  17:17  5.1.2600.1587      68,608  Spoolss.dll      
   30-Jul-2004  21:29  5.1.2600.1580     594,432  Xpsp2res.dll
Windows XP Service Pack 2
      Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   27-Aug-2004  16:58  5.1.2600.2508     341,504  Localspl.dll

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/24/2006
Keywords:kbQFE kbHotfixServer kbWinXPsp2fix kbWinXPpreSP2fix kbfix kbbug kbpubtypekc KB873396 kbAudITPRO
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