Apple TIL files: Negative Numbers in Copy Window; LaserWriter 8.5.1 -192 or -8993 Errors

Two new Apple TIL files of note:

#30472: Mac OS 8.1: Negative Numbers in Copy Progress Window I copied a CD to hard drive by dragging the CD icon to a hard drive icon when using Mac OS 8.1. The copy went normally except that the number of items left to copy eventually went into negative numbers. For example, the progress went 1 - > 0 - > -1. What caused this and did all files copy successfully. Answer: This is a cosmetic issue with Mac OS 8.1 and only appears to occur when copying one volume to another. If the source is a folder or a group of files and/or folders, the negative numbers do not appear. There is no data lost. This should be addressed in a future version of Mac OS.

Update: Matthew Dahlquist writes: "It is my belief that these numbers are caused by the Finder copying invisible custom icon files, but not including them in its original count. I have found that transferring a folder full of folders with custom icons will cause the negative number to reach lower than zero by almost exactly the original file count (short by the number of Read Me files, or Registration applicationss, if present)."

#30473: LaserWriter 8.5.1: -192 or -8993 Errors Through Print Server After installing Mac OS 8.1 (including LaserWriter 8.5.1), I get -8993 or -192 errors when I print through my AppleShare Print Server 4.2.x print queues. Can you help with this? Answer: Apple is investigating an issue between LaserWriter 8.5.1 and some versions of some print servers, including AppleShare Print Server 4.2.x. The problem does not occur with AppleShare IP Print Server 5.0.x. If you are experiencing -192 or -8993 errors when printing via a print spooler, here are a few work-arounds:

1. Print directly to the printer
2. Use Apple LaserWriter 8.4.3 or earlier.
3. Use the Adobe PostScript driver v.8.5.1 or other third party driver (such as Hewlett Packard's LaserJet driver v8.5.1).
4. Contact the developer of your print server to see if they have product-specific fixes or work-arounds.

Note: We have covered this LaserWriter issue in several previous postings, including one last November and another last month. Other work-arounds were suggested.