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System Error 85 on Windows 2000

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3 replies

by m_ozog

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I use a batch file to capture a network printer to a LPT port. It worked fine under Windows NT 4.0. Now the client upgraded to Windows 2000 Professional for the desktops and Server for the servers.

The whole line is

NET USE LPT4: \\BCD\

When the batch file runs, System Error 85 displays.

Does anyone know what this is? I don't know where to start looking because I can print to the from any program. Capturing it to an LPT port is for limited use.

3 replies

by edbit

85 = "The local device name is already in use" - lpt4 must have been already allocated to a shared printer or modem and not been released with something like "net use lpt4: /delete".

If you type "net use" before/after then you will see the mappings.

Remapping (on NT4 SP6a) without "/delete" done first fails anyway - even if to same device - has the client changed something operationally ?

Was the printer just busy with another of your batch file connections ?

Hope this helps

by m_ozog

Thank you for your input. When they were on NT 4 and I used the NET USE it would remap automatically if it was mapped to another device. When they moved to Windows 2000 I was unaware of the /delete command which was the key to getting this to work.

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