100 Percent CPU Usage Occurs When You Print on an LPT Printer Port (318273)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP1
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP1
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP1
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP2
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP3
This article was previously published under Q318273

SYMPTOMS

When you print on an LPT printer port, 100 percent CPU usage occurs until the print job is completed. This slows down other programs until the print job is completed. In some case, other programs may slow down enough that they seem completely unresponsive. This behavior affects all power users who have many programs running at one time.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because Windows does not have interrupt support for LPT printers.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, print to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) printer port. If the printer does not have this capability, use a parallel-USB cable.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/26/2003
Keywords:kbprb kbprint KB318273
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