Rendering Subsystems may be causing a 'Windows was unable to print the test page' error

Symptoms:

This problem manifests itself in two different manners:

1) Attempting to print from any applications in Win95 does not produce any results: no error messages, no printout, nothing at all.

2) As soon as the "Print" command is selected, an error message comes up: "Windows was unable to print the test page. Would you like to begin troubleshooting now".

Explanation:

The "Rendering Subsystem" is a line placed in the win.ini that does not allow the computer to recognize those devices that are installed below that line (under the [Devices] and [PrinterPorts] sections). For all that the computer "knows", there are no printer devices installed beyond that line (which is the equivalent of not having anything installed at all). Likewise, the same symptoms may occur if printing is attempted after the Canon printer driver installation process has unsuccessfully tried to modify the win.ini file whose attributes are set to "read-only" (no error messages will be produced during the Canon printer driver installation process).

Solution:

1) Open the win.ini file and make sure that under the [PrinterPorts] and [Devices] sections the Canon printer model being installed is mentioned in a line that will read something like:

[Devices]

Canon BJC-xxxx=CANONBJ,LPT1:

[PrinterPorts]

Canon BJC-xxxx=CANONBJ,LPT1:,15,45

If the above lines are not present, add them manually substituting xxxx with the printer model being installed.

Also, if present, make sure to remove or place a ";" in front of the line that reads "Rendering Subsystem" under the [PrinterPorts] and [Devices] sections. Save the changes and exit.

2) If, while implementing the above step, an error message appears stating that the above changes cannot be saved, close the win.ini anyway, open Windows Explorer, find the win.ini file under C:\windows, right-click on it, go to Properties, take the check mark off from the "read-only" box, click on Apply, and then on OK. Re-install the Canon printer driver and, if the "Rendering Subsystem" line is present, disable it as described in step #1.

3) Next, go back to the "Printers" window, enter Microsoft Fax or Bitfax driver properties and, under the "Details" tab, in the box named "Print to the following port", choose either the COM port onto which the modem is installed or, if not known, choose "File". Click on Apply and then OK. Re-boot the computer.

4) If the symptoms persist, remove the Canon printer driver from the "Printers" window. Re-boot the computer, and proceed with the re-installation of the Canon printer driver.