WIN /D:T Disables Printing and Communications in WFWG 3.11

• Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11

SUMMARY

When you start Windows for Workgroups with the command WIN /D:T and you try to print or use a communications (COM) port, you receive the following error message:

   LPT1 is being used by another application.
   When the application is finished with the port, resume printing.

MORE INFORMATION

You may need to start Windows for Workgroups with the /D:T switch as part of standard troubleshooting. Doing so disables all printing and communications until Windows for Workgroups is restarted normally.

Under normal circumstances, the communications driver (COMM.DRV) calls VCOMM.386 to determine the appropriate port and parameters to print or communicate to. The /D:T switch prevents all *.386 files from loading. Therefore, when COMM.DRV attempts to call VCOMM.386 to begin printing, the driver is not loaded into memory, further printing and communications port use is impossible, and the error message is displayed.

This behavior is by design; the /D:T switch is included for troubleshooting purposes only.