Macintosh: "Port in Use" Error Message

When setting up a serial printer in the Chooser to use the printer port, an alert box with one of these error messages appears: "port in use", or "port currently in use by another application", or "port already in use".
Symptom

When setting up a serial printer in the Chooser to use the printer port, an alert box with one of these error messages appears: "port in use", or "port currently in use by another application", or "port already in use".


Solution

Reset the printer port by doing the following:

If, after restarting the computer you see the same symptom, make sure AppleTalk is Inactive in the Chooser, and then reset the parameter RAM.

Resetting Parameter RAM (PRAM)
Published Date: Feb 18, 2012