Command Prompt Err Msg: All Pipe Instances Are Busy

 Last reviewed: August 22, 1996
Article ID: Q124744
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.5

SYMPTOMS

If you print to a locally attached printer from Command Prompt (CMD.EXE) or a virtual MS-DOS machine (VDM) while Print Manager is printing, the following error message may appear at the command prompt: 

   All Pipe Instances Are Busy
After this message appears, you can no longer print from any Command Prompt or VDM (even if they were started after the error message appeared).

RESOLUTION

To restore printing, stop and restart the Spooler service or reboot your computer.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.5. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

KBCategory: kbprint kbbug3.50
KBSubcategory: ntprint nt16ap
Additional reference words: prodnt 3.50 lpt com

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Last reviewed: August 22, 1996
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