Some Error Messages When Printing in Windows

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This article was previously published under Q121074

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SYMPTOMS

When you try to connect to a printer shared by a Windows computer, one of the following errors may appear when you enter the network path or port name:

\\servername\sharename is an invalid port name

-OR-

Could not connect to the printer: The system cannot find the file specified

-OR-

Test Page failed to print. Would you like to view the print trouble shooter for assistance? The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.

-OR-

Test page failed to print. Would you like to view the print trouble shooter for assistance? Unable to create a print job.

-OR-

Could not start print job.

-OR-

A StartDocPrinter call was not issued.

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These messages are erroneous and occur if the Windows printer share is password protected. If you attempt to connect to the share by running a NET USE from the command line, you receive this (correct) message:

The password is invalid for \\servername\sharename

You are allowed to enter the password of the share.

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RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, use one of the following procedures:

Method 1: Remove the password protection from the Windows printer share.
Method 2:
1. Make a connection to the share using the command prompt, and then enter the correct password with the following syntax:
  NET USE LPTx \\computernamne\printername [password]
2. Use Print Manager or the Printers folder to create a new printer that uses the redirected LPT port.

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

103747 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/103747/EN-US/ ) Err Msg: \\Server\Share Is an Invalid Port Name

You can also query the following phrase in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: