Win 98se & Server Busy Message

rodalsa · 12th September 2008

I might be out of order here since I am posting an answer and the question in the same thread.

I run Windows 98se, Version 4.10, Build 2222 A on a 400Mhz machine.
Attached I have a Barricade Router, Buffalo Link Station, Dacal CD Carousel, Logitech Optical Mouse, HP Office Jet 6310 All In One Printer, Hughes Net Satellite Modem, Belkin UPS, Sony CD Drive and an HP cd-writer cd 16 series drive.

The router services the Modem, the Link Station, the 400Mhz machine, the printer and a so far unmentioned notebook computer.

Recently I found myself with an annoying message box titled "Server Busy". This helpful msg indicated that some program was attempting to do something to something but did not reveal what the somethings were. The box gave me only one option. That option was to 'Try again'. Doing so removed the message which returned later.

After much futzing around the internet and my system, I did a search for the subject on this site. The search "Server Busy"(quotes included) under the Win98 ----- section returned two hits neither of which referred to this message box. It is for this reason that I make this post here for the benefit of any others that may be faced with this problem.

I found the problem. The HP printer's software was hung. I unplugged the printer from its power source waited a few moments and plugged it back in. Everything came back up running. The message box no longer aggravates me.

I was led to the printer via a program named TaskInfo. This program lists all of the running applications present in memory and much detail about them. I noticed one of the programs named 'HPZinw12.exe' was cycling through a load and unload at an approximate 42 second period (TaskInfo provides the programs up time). Strange. I attempted to run the ink level tool for the printer. The response was that communications could not be established. The printer is my network (LAN) printer. I attempted to turn the printer off hoping that the reboot would fix the communication problem. NO RESPONSE. Thus the power down and up cycle.

As an aside on this while the message box was being displayed TaskInfo 'randomly' crashed. After the fix TaskInfo stopped crashing.

Conclusion: Hung software in the HP printer blocked its communication port. The program 'HPZinw12.exe' apparently polled the printer and being unsuccessful eventually caused the call for the 'Server Busy' message.

Advice: Perhaps any non-responsive address on an LAN will trigger this cryptic message --- so look around.

Rod

**mattman** · 13th September 2008

Thanks for sharing that with us Rod (and the detailed information). Could prove quite helpful

Matt