Err Msg: 20: Memory Overflow on HP LaserJet Series III (111834)

SYMPTOMS

When you print to a Hewlett-Packard (HP) LaserJet Series III printer that has exactly 1 megabyte (MB) of memory, the following error message may appear on the LCD panel of the printer:

20: Memory Overflow

This message may appear even though the Windows NT Print Manager reflects that you have accurately set the amount of memory on the printer to 1024 kilobytes (K).

The same file prints correctly from Microsoft Windows 3.1. However, if you select FILE: as the port within the Windows NT Print Manager and then attempt to print the resulting output file after you boot to MS-DOS with the "copy filename.prn lptx: /b" command, the above error message still appears.

CAUSE

This error message may appear when you attempt to print a file that contains a large amount of graphics or data per page. The printer driver used when printing to HP LaserJet Series III printers in Windows NT (HPPCL.DLL) sends too much information to the printer, which causes the memory buffer of the printer to overflow.

RESOLUTION

To correct this problem, add memory to the printer.

One of the following steps may also correct this problem:

Decrease the amount of graphics and/or data per page.
Reduce the printer resolution (dots per inch).

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.1. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

The HP products included here are manufactured by Hewlett-Packard Co., a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.