In XP, when trying to install printer, getting error "the specified port is unknown"

Question

see title for question.

*original title - When i try to install printer i get message "the specified port is unknown". this happened after cable tv and cable modem was installed.*

Answer 1

Copy usbprint.sys to C:\Windows\system32\drivers

Copy usbmon.dll to C:\Windows\system32

Answer 2

thanks for all ur help. i may not be comp literate to do all this.  here goes

no printers listed. i have deleted all.no ports usbxxx or dot4xxx. several other listed.

mid col is same. intel

rt col is win2000 or xp.

This is what I expected.

usbprint.sys listed 54 times mostly in documents and settings. also in nt service pack driver pk. same for usbmon.dll.

This is not. 

1.  Open Windows Explorer and type C:\Windows\system32 in the address bar.

2.  Find usbmon.dll

3.  Right-click on that file. select Properties, then click the Version tab. Is it version 5.1.2600.5512?  If not, what version is it?

4.  Now go to the C:\Windows\system32\drivers folder

5.  What version is the usbprint.sys file?

Do you have a copy of each file in C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles\i386?  If so, what are the versions of those files?

If the usbprint.sys and usbmon.dll  files in C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles\i386 are the same (or higher) versions that the corresponding files in C:\Windows\system32 and C:\Windows\system32\drivers, copy the files from  C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles\i386 to their appropriate folders.  Then reboot.

Answer 3

Do not rely on the response from "Umesh P Support Engineer."  That response is not applicable to Windows XP (even if your printer is a network printer -- which isn't suggested at all by your original question).

Please start by providing all of the following information:

• What version of Windows, including service pack, is installed
• What make and model printer are you attempting to install
• How do you intend the printer to be connected to the computer (usb, wired network, wireless network, parallel, etc.)
• Was the printer installed and working prior to the installation of your cable modem?
• If you are attempting to install the printer using a network (wired or wireless) and the cable modem replaced your previous modem, what is the make and model of the cable modem and what is the make and model of the prior modem
• How have you attempted to install the printer (e.g., did you use a CD provided with the printer or did you just connect the printer and hope for the best).  Please be as specific as possible in answering this question.

Answer 4

Do not rely on the response from "Umesh P Support Engineer."  That response is not applicable to Windows XP (even if your printer is a network printer -- which isn't suggested at all by your original question).

Please start by providing all of the following information:

• What version of Windows, including service pack, is installed
• What make and model printer are you attempting to install
• How do you intend the printer to be connected to the computer (usb, wired network, wireless network, parallel, etc.)
• Was the printer installed and working prior to the installation of your cable modem?
• If you are attempting to install the printer using a network (wired or wireless) and the cable modem replaced your previous modem, what is the make and model of the cable modem and what is the make and model of the prior modem
• How have you attempted to install the printer (e.g., did you use a CD provided with the printer or did you just connect the printer and hope for the best).  Please be as specific as possible in answering this question.

Answer 5

Hi,

What is the make and model of the printer?

You may try solution provided below, thanks to Alan Morris:

I assume the printer has a network card or is attached to a "print server" network device. It would be better to add a New Standard TCP/IP port using the hostname for the network device, then adding a local printer and selecting the already created port.

Try the below steps to run the Network Add Printer wizard:

1)      Open an administrator command prompt. To do this, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.

2)      If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

3)      Type the following commands at the command prompt, and then press ENTER:

printui /ip