Printers Folder

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ed Woodard
  • Start date Start date
E

Ed Woodard

I have had a few problems with a few peoples machines
where their hard drive space gets eaten up due to the
Printers Folder retaining temp files and never releasing
them. I need to know what could possibly trigger this
and how can I remedy this issue without manually clearing
out the Printers Folder every so often.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you.
 
Are the people having the problems logged in with user privileges on the
systems? Are they printing to a local printer that targets a Standard
TCP/IP Port? Are the printers the same driver? What are the printer
drivers for the machine having this problem.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
 
The people are logged in and are authenticated users. It
does not appear to matter whether if it's printing from a
directly connected printer, a tcp/ip ported printer, or
even a networked printer. It's not a specific printer.
The printers all have the correct drivers. They range
from HP4s, 5Sis, and HP5s.

So there is nothing that really pinpoints as a specific
problem that I can tell besides the users with the
problems are running Windows 2000.

I have the problem on a Windows 2000 Terminal Server
where many printers are connected due to the user base.
I have the same problem for a user that is connected to a
networked printer and that user is working on a Windows
2000 Professional machine. I also have a user that is
printing to a shared printer with the same problem. I've
reinstalled the drivers and checked the printer settings
and everything appears to be OK. We had NT machines that
never had this problem, we have XP machines that has not
displayed this problem, it just seems for the time being
that it has something to do with 2000 Pro machines, but I
can't seem to pinpoint the source of the problem
specifically.

So every couple of weeks I would have to go into
C:\WINNT\System32\Spool\Printers and clear out all of the
held temp files to remedy the problem.
-----Original Message-----
Are the people having the problems logged in with user privileges on the
systems? Are they printing to a local printer that targets a Standard
TCP/IP Port? Are the printers the same driver? What are the printer
drivers for the machine having this problem.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh; [ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

I have had a few problems with a few peoples machines
where their hard drive space gets eaten up due to the
Printers Folder retaining temp files and never releasing
them. I need to know what could possibly trigger this
and how can I remedy this issue without manually clearing
out the Printers Folder every so often.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you.
Click to expand...


.
Click to expand...
 
The spooler creates nnnnnn.spl and nnnnnn.shd files. These are not really
temp files as they contain relevant job data.

tcpmon creates tcpnnnn.tmp files, lprmon and lpdsvc creates lprnnnn.tmp

GDI will also create tmp files when the job size is greater than 1 MB, this
file is created on the server when networked connected and the clients send
EMF formatted spl files. GDI files are usually in WINNT\temp. These files
are splnnnn.tmp in format.

If these are spooler files, you can open the shd files with notepad to
determine which printer is getting targeted


Which SP are you running on the Win2k systems? With which files are you
having problems?


--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Ed Woodard said:
The people are logged in and are authenticated users. It
does not appear to matter whether if it's printing from a
directly connected printer, a tcp/ip ported printer, or
even a networked printer. It's not a specific printer.
The printers all have the correct drivers. They range
from HP4s, 5Sis, and HP5s.

So there is nothing that really pinpoints as a specific
problem that I can tell besides the users with the
problems are running Windows 2000.

I have the problem on a Windows 2000 Terminal Server
where many printers are connected due to the user base.
I have the same problem for a user that is connected to a
networked printer and that user is working on a Windows
2000 Professional machine. I also have a user that is
printing to a shared printer with the same problem. I've
reinstalled the drivers and checked the printer settings
and everything appears to be OK. We had NT machines that
never had this problem, we have XP machines that has not
displayed this problem, it just seems for the time being
that it has something to do with 2000 Pro machines, but I
can't seem to pinpoint the source of the problem
specifically.

So every couple of weeks I would have to go into
C:\WINNT\System32\Spool\Printers and clear out all of the
held temp files to remedy the problem.
-----Original Message-----
Are the people having the problems logged in with user privileges on the
systems? Are they printing to a local printer that targets a Standard
TCP/IP Port? Are the printers the same driver? What are the printer
drivers for the machine having this problem.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh; [ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

I have had a few problems with a few peoples machines
where their hard drive space gets eaten up due to the
Printers Folder retaining temp files and never releasing
them. I need to know what could possibly trigger this
and how can I remedy this issue without manually clearing
out the Printers Folder every so often.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you.
Click to expand...


.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
"EMF formatted spl files. GDI files are usually in
WINNT\temp. These files are splnnnn.tmp in format."

So these types of files should be directed to the
WINNT\temp folder? And are they automatically purged
from that folder. When the problem arises, files
like "SPL458C.tmp, SPL45C3.tmp, etc." populate the
Printers folder and if they are files that would normally
show up within the Printers folder then they are not
automatically purged as I would expect a machine running
2000 without this problem to do.

Unless these files should not be appearing in this folder
at all? I am not sure, I am trying to research it and
can't seem to find out if these types of temp files
should be appearing within that folder in the first place
(C:\WINNT\System32\Spool\Printers).

From what it's starting to sound like, it appears that
theses SPLNNNN.tmp files are being incorrectly redirected
to the Printers folder instead of the temp folder,
correct?

The 2000 machines are running with the latest SP (SP4)
and the files that are printed does not seem to matter,
whether it is within Outlook, Excel, Word, Notepad, IE.

BTW, thanks for your help in this.

-----Original Message-----
The spooler creates nnnnnn.spl and nnnnnn.shd files. These are not really
temp files as they contain relevant job data.

tcpmon creates tcpnnnn.tmp files, lprmon and lpdsvc creates lprnnnn.tmp

GDI will also create tmp files when the job size is greater than 1 MB, this
file is created on the server when networked connected and the clients send
EMF formatted spl files. GDI files are usually in WINNT\temp. These files
are splnnnn.tmp in format.

If these are spooler files, you can open the shd files with notepad to
determine which printer is getting targeted


Which SP are you running on the Win2k systems? With which files are you
having problems?


--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh; [ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

The people are logged in and are authenticated users. It
does not appear to matter whether if it's printing from a
directly connected printer, a tcp/ip ported printer, or
even a networked printer. It's not a specific printer.
The printers all have the correct drivers. They range
from HP4s, 5Sis, and HP5s.

So there is nothing that really pinpoints as a specific
problem that I can tell besides the users with the
problems are running Windows 2000.

I have the problem on a Windows 2000 Terminal Server
where many printers are connected due to the user base.
I have the same problem for a user that is connected to a
networked printer and that user is working on a Windows
2000 Professional machine. I also have a user that is
printing to a shared printer with the same problem. I've
reinstalled the drivers and checked the printer settings
and everything appears to be OK. We had NT machines that
never had this problem, we have XP machines that has not
displayed this problem, it just seems for the time being
that it has something to do with 2000 Pro machines, but I
can't seem to pinpoint the source of the problem
specifically.

So every couple of weeks I would have to go into
C:\WINNT\System32\Spool\Printers and clear out all of the
held temp files to remedy the problem.
-----Original Message-----
Are the people having the problems logged in with user privileges on the
systems? Are they printing to a local printer that targets a Standard
TCP/IP Port? Are the printers the same driver? What are the printer
drivers for the machine having this problem.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh; [ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties,
Click to expand...
and
confers no rights.
"Ed Woodard" <[email protected]>
Click to expand...
wrote
in message
I have had a few problems with a few peoples machines
where their hard drive space gets eaten up due to the
Printers Folder retaining temp files and never releasing
them. I need to know what could possibly trigger this
and how can I remedy this issue without manually clearing
out the Printers Folder every so often.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you.


.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...


.
Click to expand...
 
I found the bug on this but it should be fixed in win2k SP3 and greater.
This was a problem in the spooler related to GDI so GDI gets off the hook on
this. I confirmed that with the default spool directory security
configuration on Win2k SP4 , the files are properly cleaned up. Are there
any special security settings you use for user? Also if the default security
changed on system32 this info usually gets migrated down the tree. The
workaround can be used for SP2 systems but it would be nice to determine
what is unique in your environment

Workaround
1) Add the delete permission to users under PRINTERS folder
2) Or disable the advance feature in RAW at printer server. This will
prevent the printer client from creating such spooler temp file

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314784&Product=win2000
The Spooler Service Cannot Delete the Temporary File If You Log On to the
Computer as a User


--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Ed Woodard said:
"EMF formatted spl files. GDI files are usually in
WINNT\temp. These files are splnnnn.tmp in format."

So these types of files should be directed to the
WINNT\temp folder? And are they automatically purged
from that folder. When the problem arises, files
like "SPL458C.tmp, SPL45C3.tmp, etc." populate the
Printers folder and if they are files that would normally
show up within the Printers folder then they are not
automatically purged as I would expect a machine running
2000 without this problem to do.

Unless these files should not be appearing in this folder
at all? I am not sure, I am trying to research it and
can't seem to find out if these types of temp files
should be appearing within that folder in the first place
(C:\WINNT\System32\Spool\Printers).

From what it's starting to sound like, it appears that
theses SPLNNNN.tmp files are being incorrectly redirected
to the Printers folder instead of the temp folder,
correct?

The 2000 machines are running with the latest SP (SP4)
and the files that are printed does not seem to matter,
whether it is within Outlook, Excel, Word, Notepad, IE.

BTW, thanks for your help in this.

-----Original Message-----
The spooler creates nnnnnn.spl and nnnnnn.shd files. These are not really
temp files as they contain relevant job data.

tcpmon creates tcpnnnn.tmp files, lprmon and lpdsvc creates lprnnnn.tmp

GDI will also create tmp files when the job size is greater than 1 MB, this
file is created on the server when networked connected and the clients send
EMF formatted spl files. GDI files are usually in WINNT\temp. These files
are splnnnn.tmp in format.

If these are spooler files, you can open the shd files with notepad to
determine which printer is getting targeted


Which SP are you running on the Win2k systems? With which files are you
having problems?


--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh; [ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

The people are logged in and are authenticated users. It
does not appear to matter whether if it's printing from a
directly connected printer, a tcp/ip ported printer, or
even a networked printer. It's not a specific printer.
The printers all have the correct drivers. They range
from HP4s, 5Sis, and HP5s.

So there is nothing that really pinpoints as a specific
problem that I can tell besides the users with the
problems are running Windows 2000.

I have the problem on a Windows 2000 Terminal Server
where many printers are connected due to the user base.
I have the same problem for a user that is connected to a
networked printer and that user is working on a Windows
2000 Professional machine. I also have a user that is
printing to a shared printer with the same problem. I've
reinstalled the drivers and checked the printer settings
and everything appears to be OK. We had NT machines that
never had this problem, we have XP machines that has not
displayed this problem, it just seems for the time being
that it has something to do with 2000 Pro machines, but I
can't seem to pinpoint the source of the problem
specifically.

So every couple of weeks I would have to go into
C:\WINNT\System32\Spool\Printers and clear out all of the
held temp files to remedy the problem.

-----Original Message-----
Are the people having the problems logged in with user
privileges on the
systems? Are they printing to a local printer that
targets a Standard
TCP/IP Port? Are the printers the same driver? What
are the printer
drivers for the machine having this problem.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;
[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
confers no rights.

in message
I have had a few problems with a few peoples machines
where their hard drive space gets eaten up due to the
Printers Folder retaining temp files and never
releasing
them. I need to know what could possibly trigger this
and how can I remedy this issue without manually
clearing
out the Printers Folder every so often.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you.


.
Click to expand...


.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
"Workaround
1) Add the delete permission to users under PRINTERS
folder
2) Or disable the advance feature in RAW at printer
server. This willprevent the printer client from creating
such spooler temp file"

Thanks! This seemed to do the trick.


-----Original Message-----
I found the bug on this but it should be fixed in win2k SP3 and greater.
This was a problem in the spooler related to GDI so GDI gets off the hook on
this. I confirmed that with the default spool directory security
configuration on Win2k SP4 , the files are properly cleaned up. Are there
any special security settings you use for user? Also if the default security
changed on system32 this info usually gets migrated down the tree. The
workaround can be used for SP2 systems but it would be nice to determine
what is unique in your environment

Workaround
1) Add the delete permission to users under PRINTERS folder
2) Or disable the advance feature in RAW at printer server. This will
prevent the printer client from creating such spooler temp file

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en- us;314784&Product=win2000
The Spooler Service Cannot Delete the Temporary File If You Log On to the
Computer as a User


--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh; [ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

"EMF formatted spl files. GDI files are usually in
WINNT\temp. These files are splnnnn.tmp in format."

So these types of files should be directed to the
WINNT\temp folder? And are they automatically purged
from that folder. When the problem arises, files
like "SPL458C.tmp, SPL45C3.tmp, etc." populate the
Printers folder and if they are files that would normally
show up within the Printers folder then they are not
automatically purged as I would expect a machine running
2000 without this problem to do.

Unless these files should not be appearing in this folder
at all? I am not sure, I am trying to research it and
can't seem to find out if these types of temp files
should be appearing within that folder in the first place
(C:\WINNT\System32\Spool\Printers).

From what it's starting to sound like, it appears that
theses SPLNNNN.tmp files are being incorrectly redirected
to the Printers folder instead of the temp folder,
correct?

The 2000 machines are running with the latest SP (SP4)
and the files that are printed does not seem to matter,
whether it is within Outlook, Excel, Word, Notepad, IE.

BTW, thanks for your help in this.

-----Original Message-----
The spooler creates nnnnnn.spl and nnnnnn.shd files. These are not really
temp files as they contain relevant job data.

tcpmon creates tcpnnnn.tmp files, lprmon and lpdsvc creates lprnnnn.tmp

GDI will also create tmp files when the job size is greater than 1 MB, this
file is created on the server when networked connected and the clients send
EMF formatted spl files. GDI files are usually in WINNT\temp. These files
are splnnnn.tmp in format.

If these are spooler files, you can open the shd files with notepad to
determine which printer is getting targeted


Which SP are you running on the Win2k systems? With which files are you
having problems?


--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh; [ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties,
Click to expand...
and
confers no rights.
"Ed Woodard" <[email protected]>
Click to expand...
wrote
in message
The people are logged in and are authenticated
Click to expand...
users.
It
does not appear to matter whether if it's printing from a
directly connected printer, a tcp/ip ported printer, or
even a networked printer. It's not a specific printer.
The printers all have the correct drivers. They range
from HP4s, 5Sis, and HP5s.

So there is nothing that really pinpoints as a specific
problem that I can tell besides the users with the
problems are running Windows 2000.

I have the problem on a Windows 2000 Terminal Server
where many printers are connected due to the user base.
I have the same problem for a user that is connected to a
networked printer and that user is working on a Windows
2000 Professional machine. I also have a user that is
printing to a shared printer with the same problem. I've
reinstalled the drivers and checked the printer settings
and everything appears to be OK. We had NT machines that
never had this problem, we have XP machines that has not
displayed this problem, it just seems for the time being
that it has something to do with 2000 Pro machines, but I
can't seem to pinpoint the source of the problem
specifically.

So every couple of weeks I would have to go into
C:\WINNT\System32\Spool\Printers and clear out all
Click to expand...
of
the
held temp files to remedy the problem.

-----Original Message-----
Are the people having the problems logged in with user
privileges on the
systems? Are they printing to a local printer that
targets a Standard
TCP/IP Port? Are the printers the same driver? What
are the printer
drivers for the machine having this problem.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;
[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no
Click to expand...
warranties,
and
confers no rights.

in message
I have had a few problems with a few peoples machines
where their hard drive space gets eaten up due to the
Printers Folder retaining temp files and never
releasing
them. I need to know what could possibly trigger this
and how can I remedy this issue without manually
clearing
out the Printers Folder every so often.

Any help is appreciated. Thank you.


.



.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...


.
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