Knowledge Base

Unable to View Unshared Printer in Windows NT 4.0 Printer Folder

Article ID: 154074

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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

This article was previously published under Q154074

SYMPTOMS

In Microsoft Windows NT version 3.51, the Server view in Print Manager shows all printers on a server, even those that are not shared, to all remote users. In Windows NT 4.0, when a remote user is not an administrator or print operator of a server, the printer's folder will not show any unshared printers.

CAUSE

This is a design decision that was made when changing the user interface to the new shell.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, you can share the printer with a share name ending in a dollar sign ($). This will make the print share visible from Windows NT clients only.

MORE INFORMATION

In Windows NT 4.0, when you are not an administrator of the print server, but you have full control of an unshared printer, you cannot see the printer to administer it. In Windows NT 3.51, you can see the printer in Print Manager even though it is not shared, and you could manage print jobs and configure the printer.

Keywords: kbbug kbnetwork KB154074