Symptoms
If you use a client computer that is running either Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98, or Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition to print to a network printer that is installed as part of a Microsoft cluster or standalone server, you may receive the following error message:
The test page fails to print. Would you like to view the print trouble shooter for assistance. Access is denied.
Cause
This problem may occur if the McAfee Anti-Virus monitoring software is set to perform a real-time scan of files on either the client that is running Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows 98 Second Edition or on the server that is running Windows NT Server 4.0.
McAfee Anti-Virus scans the spooled files while the print job is being processed. Windows cannot close the files because McAfee Anti-Virus has the files open. These files are left in the Systemroot\System32\Spool\Printers folder. The spooled .shd and .spl files remain in the folder after the print job is displayed as completed.
Resolution
To resolve this problem, use either of the methods that are described in this section.
You Receive the Error Message on the Print Server
If you receive the error message on the print server that is running Windows NT Server 4.0:
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Delete the corrupted files in the Spool folder:
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Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
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Double-click Services, click Spooler, and then click Stop.
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When you receive the following message, click Yes:
Are you sure you want to stop the spooler service?
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Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Windows NT Explorer.
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Expand the Winnt folder, expand the System32 folder, and then expand the Spool folder.
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Click the Printers folder, click all of the files that are listed in the right pane, and then click Delete.
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When you receive the following message, click Yes:
Are you sure you want to send these x items to the Recycle Bin?
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Repeat steps A and B to restart the Spooler service, and then click Start.
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Configure the printer that is having the problem to start printing after the last page is spooled:
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Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
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Right-click the printer that is having the problem, and then click Properties.
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Click the Scheduling tab, and then click Spool print documents so program finishes printing faster.
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Click Start printing after last page is spooled, and then click OK.
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Configure the printer that is having the problem to print directly to the printer:
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Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
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Right-click the printer that is having the problem, and then click Properties.
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Click the Scheduling tab, click Print directly to printer, and then click OK.
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Upgrade the McAfee Anti-Virus program to version 4.5 or later.
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Verify that the Spool folder has the correct permissions.For additional information about the correct permissions for the Spool folder, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
137503 Default Windows Spool Directory and Permissions
You Receive the Error Message on the Client
If you receive the error message on the client that is running either Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows 98 Second Edition:
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Delete the corrupted files in the Spool folder:
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Click Start, point to Programs, and then click Windows Explorer.
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Expand the Windows folder, expand the Spool folder, and then click the Printers folder.
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Click all of the files that are listed in the right pane, and then click Delete.
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When you receive the following message, click Yes:
Are you sure you want to send these x items to the Recycle Bin?
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Configure the printer that is having the problem to start printing after last page is spooled:
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Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
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Right-click the printer that is having the problem, and then click Properties.
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Click the Details tab, click Spool Settings, and then click Spool print documents so program finishes printing faster.
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Click Start printing after last page is spooled, and then click OK.
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Configure the printer that is having the problem to print directly to the printer:
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Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Printers.
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Right-click the printer that is having the problem, and then click Properties.
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Click the Details tab, click Spool Settings, click Print directly to printer, and then click OK.
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Upgrade the McAfee Anti-Virus program to version 4.5 or later.
More Information
If you are using a debugging program to debug the Spooler service, the following data may be logged in the debug log:
LSPL:SplGetPrinter Failure with ERROR_INSUFFICIENT_BUFFER cbBuf is 0 and pcbNeeded is 78.
References
For additional information about related printing problems, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
180892 Err Msg: Error Writing to LPT1: Access Denied
142370 Printing to HP Laserjet Printer Results in Event 2004
179156 Updated TCP/IP Printing Options for Windows NT 4.0 SP3 and Later
188878 Printing to Local Port May Fail with Access Denied Error
The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.
