Knowledge Base

Unable to Connect to Apple Printer Shares

Article ID: 127161

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition

This article was previously published under Q127161

SUMMARY

When you browse the Windows NT Network Printers in Print Manager, all printer shares including the Apple printer shares appear. If you attempt to connect to an Apple printer share, the following error message appears:

Could not connect to printer. The printer name is invalid.

CAUSE

This problem occurs if the Apple printer name has a backslash in it, such as "Apple LaserWriter 16\600 PS" (without quotes). The Registry creates an additional subkey after the backslash, instead of the regular key name. Therefore, since the print monitor does not initialize, the spooler does not create any of the Macintosh ports.

WORKAROUND

To correct this problem:

Remove the printer and port from the print server using Print Manager.
Recreate the printer and rename it without a backslash.

Additional query words: prodnt sfm mac

Keywords: kbprint KB127161