Printer icons missing/can't add printers

Somewhere along the way I lost all of my printer icons in the printer window.
If I click on Add Printer, nothing happens. The print spooler is running
and I am able to print in most cases. My printers will show in a drop-down
within other applications and I can print from most websites except from
certain websites (such as a boarding pass from Delta). I have loaded SP2 and
all Windows updates.

I'm having the same problem with XP SP2. Tried removing all printers and
reinstalling (using command line interface), but I still cannot see the
printers. I can add and delete printers (again using the command line), and
printing works, but the GUI interface is unusable. It's been suggested that
I attempt to do a Windows XP repair from the install CD, but I've been
hesitant since I fear that may have unwanted results.

If anyone knows of a better solution, I'd love to hear it.

"mpl405026" wrote:

> Somewhere along the way I lost all of my printer icons in the printer window.
> If I click on Add Printer, nothing happens. The print spooler is running
> and I am able to print in most cases. My printers will show in a drop-down
> within other applications and I can print from most websites except from
> certain websites (such as a boarding pass from Delta). I have loaded SP2 and
> all Windows updates.

The only other thing I would suggest at this point is a System Restore to
the point before this happened. However if it is a while ago, then I would
definitely try a Repair Installation of XP. Don't forget to reinstall SP2
after the Repair Installation.
--
Cari (MS-MVP)
Printing & Imaging



"stevec59" <stevec59@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:FBFFCC78-96A0-45B9-9AE2-5D049B1F8C4A@microsoft.com...
> I'm having the same problem with XP SP2. Tried removing all printers and
> reinstalling (using command line interface), but I still cannot see the
> printers. I can add and delete printers (again using the command line),
> and
> printing works, but the GUI interface is unusable. It's been suggested
> that
> I attempt to do a Windows XP repair from the install CD, but I've been
> hesitant since I fear that may have unwanted results.
>
> If anyone knows of a better solution, I'd love to hear it.
>
> "mpl405026" wrote:
>
>> Somewhere along the way I lost all of my printer icons in the printer
>> window.
>> If I click on Add Printer, nothing happens. The print spooler is
>> running
>> and I am able to print in most cases. My printers will show in a
>> drop-down
>> within other applications and I can print from most websites except from
>> certain websites (such as a boarding pass from Delta). I have loaded SP2
>> and
>> all Windows updates.

FYI -- after a system restore, including reloading SP2, the problem is the
same. May just have to live with it for now. The solution may be more
painful than the problem itself.

"Cari (MS-MVP)" wrote:

> The only other thing I would suggest at this point is a System Restore to
> the point before this happened. However if it is a while ago, then I would
> definitely try a Repair Installation of XP. Don't forget to reinstall SP2
> after the Repair Installation.
> --
> Cari (MS-MVP)
> Printing & Imaging
>
>
>
> "stevec59" <stevec59@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:FBFFCC78-96A0-45B9-9AE2-5D049B1F8C4A@microsoft.com...
> > I'm having the same problem with XP SP2. Tried removing all printers and
> > reinstalling (using command line interface), but I still cannot see the
> > printers. I can add and delete printers (again using the command line),
> > and
> > printing works, but the GUI interface is unusable. It's been suggested
> > that
> > I attempt to do a Windows XP repair from the install CD, but I've been
> > hesitant since I fear that may have unwanted results.
> >
> > If anyone knows of a better solution, I'd love to hear it.
> >
> > "mpl405026" wrote:
> >
> >> Somewhere along the way I lost all of my printer icons in the printer
> >> window.
> >> If I click on Add Printer, nothing happens. The print spooler is
> >> running
> >> and I am able to print in most cases. My printers will show in a
> >> drop-down
> >> within other applications and I can print from most websites except from
> >> certain websites (such as a boarding pass from Delta). I have loaded SP2
> >> and
> >> all Windows updates.
>
>
>