DHCP Breaks XP Network Printing

[Neil Cameron]

I finally got Broadband (in the UK) last week. I took the opportunity to go
DHCP from Fixed IP addresses. It all went smoothly, EXCEPT that the Win XP
PCs on my network cannot now print to the HP OfficeJet d145 directly
attached to my Desktop PC via USB - which is my main printer.
Amazingly enough, my old one remaining Win 98 PC has no problem!
With the XP PCs, they can see the Desktop, they can see the printer, they
can reinstall the printer apparently OK - but they cannot print to it!
Requesting a Test Print gets an immediate error.
I have deleted and reinstalled the main Desktop Printer Driver; I have
deleted and reinstalled the printer driver on the other networked PCs many
time. No joy.
It is weird and very frustrating - any ideas?

 

[Chuck]

I finally got Broadband (in the UK) last week. I took the opportunity to go
DHCP from Fixed IP addresses. It all went smoothly, EXCEPT that the Win XP
PCs on my network cannot now print to the HP OfficeJet d145 directly
attached to my Desktop PC via USB - which is my main printer.
Amazingly enough, my old one remaining Win 98 PC has no problem!
With the XP PCs, they can see the Desktop, they can see the printer, they
can reinstall the printer apparently OK - but they cannot print to it!
Requesting a Test Print gets an immediate error.
I have deleted and reinstalled the main Desktop Printer Driver; I have
deleted and reinstalled the printer driver on the other networked PCs many
time. No joy.
It is weird and very frustrating - any ideas?

Neil,

What do you mean "go DHCP from Fixed IP addresses"? What was your service
before broadband?

A little detail about your network would help here. Can you please describe in
some detail how each computer / printer connects to each other, and to the
Internet service?

 

[Neil Cameron]

I mean that my in my home network all the PCs had fixed IP addresses; I
could never get the DHCP server of my previous ISDN Router to work properly.
I have gone ADSL and the DHCP server in my new Router works fine, so I've
switched to Dynamic IP addresses for my various PCs.
One is the main desktop, to which the printer is attached. Then there is a
hard-wired networked Win 98 PC, and a hard-wired Win XP PC. I have two
Wi-Fi WAPs to which three Win XP laptops connect quite happily.
I originally though the problem was Wi-Fi related, as it occurred with the
laptops first, and I tested printing from the main desktop and the Win 98
machine and they were OK. Today I tried to print from the other hard
networked Win XP machine and that won't work either.
They will appear to see it, and connect and install the driver - but they
just won't print. Not even the Test Page.
Does that help?

 

[Neil Cameron]

I forgot - they are all attached to the same WORKGROUP.

 

[Chuck]

I mean that my in my home network all the PCs had fixed IP addresses; I
could never get the DHCP server of my previous ISDN Router to work properly.
I have gone ADSL and the DHCP server in my new Router works fine, so I've
switched to Dynamic IP addresses for my various PCs.
One is the main desktop, to which the printer is attached. Then there is a
hard-wired networked Win 98 PC, and a hard-wired Win XP PC. I have two
Wi-Fi WAPs to which three Win XP laptops connect quite happily.
I originally though the problem was Wi-Fi related, as it occurred with the
laptops first, and I tested printing from the main desktop and the Win 98
machine and they were OK. Today I tried to print from the other hard
networked Win XP machine and that won't work either.
They will appear to see it, and connect and install the driver - but they
just won't print. Not even the Test Page.
Does that help?

Neil,

The "can see but can't connect" scenario is typical of a browser conflict. You
have Windows 9x (98) and Windows NT (XP) computers on the LAN together, which
can be problematic.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/windows-9x-9598me-and-browser.html>
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html>

 

[L/P]

I'm having a similar problem with an xp and 98 network. Have a hp722c
connected to my xp and one to my 98 system.
The problem I'm having is that the xp loaded it's own driver to my hp 722c
while the 98 will only load driver from original cd titled 720c.
The xp can print to the 98 "720c" but the 98 cannot print to the xp "722c".
Might want to check this situation out and load additional driver's' on the
xp and/or the 98. I've tried to load additional driver on the xp, backing it
up to the 720c driver, and can't get it to work.

L.

 

[Neil Cameron]

But they co-existed happily before.
Anyway, I've taken the Win 98 PC off the netwotrk and it doesn't help.
What else can get in the way of printing to a printer attached locally to a
networked PC?

 

[Chuck]

But they co-existed happily before.
Anyway, I've taken the Win 98 PC off the netwotrk and it doesn't help.
What else can get in the way of printing to a printer attached locally to a
networked PC?

Neil,

I'm going to try and help you fix your problem, but we need to concentrate on
why it doesn't work right now. I don't know what you changed (and neither do
you, or you could fix it yourself), so let's focus on what's wrong.

You don't solve a browser conflict by simply taking one computer off the
network. Not reliably anyway.

You have to solve the problem. That may require you to read the articles that I
provided.
# Pick one computer that will be online consistently and constantly, and
designate it the browser.
# Ensure that the browser service (and all other necessary services) is started
on that one computer.
# Ensure that the browser service is stopped on all of the other computers.

Please spend some time, and read these articles.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/windows-9x-9598me-and-browser.html>
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html>

Given the possibility that the browser is not the only problem, and this does
not fix everything, let's try and figure out what your problem is. Provide
"ipconfig /all" for all computers, and "browstat status" for all Windows XP
computers. Follow these instructions:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>

--
Cheers,
Chuck [MS-MVP Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem - it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[RRR_News]

Neil,
I noticed one time if I reinstalled or updated the printer drivers, the name
of the Printer was changed back to the OEM name. You need to make sure that
the Printer name on the W98 is less than 12 characters long and that there
are no spaces in the name. So first you will need to add the W98 PC back to
the Workgroup.

For the W98 PC, once the PC is networked. (If the printer is connected to
this PC).

1. With printer off> Start Button (or Control Panel)> Printers> Delete any
instances of that Printer listed.
2. Reinstall W98 driver/software for that Printer. During set-up you should
have a choose to install printer as a local or network printer. Select
Network Printer. During installation you will be required to turn on
printer, do so.
3. Go back to Step one> Make sure Printer's name is less than 12 characters
and no spaces in name. Also turn on Sharing function.
a. Right click Printer icon> Rename> change name (if necessary).
b. Right click Printer icon> Properties> Select Enable Sharing> and make
sure the printer is set to networked.
4. Reboot PC.

For the XP PC's (You will need to do this with each XP PC):

1. On the XP PC's, do you have the XP driver/software for the printer
installed. Be aware that if the printer is an All-in-One, many times, the
scanning feature of the printer can not be used by networked PC's.
2. On the XP PC's make sure that that the firewall is allowing printer and
file sharing. If using MS Firewall check the following, especially if you
recently installed XP SP2, or any updates. For third party software, you
will need to check its Tools/Options/Preferences tab.
For MS Firewall> Control Panel> Security> Firewall settings> Exceptions tab>
Select File & Printing Sharing.
3. Start button (or Control Panel)> Printers & Faxes> Delete any reference
to the W98 Printer.
4. With W98 printer on> Select Add a Printer> Run the Wizard by browsing
over the network until you reach the W98 PC and it's printer. Again as with
the W98 Printer Icon, make sure that the Printer's name is less than 12
characters, w/o spaces.
5. Reboot PC.

--

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Rich/rerat

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But they co-existed happily before.
Anyway, I've taken the Win 98 PC off the netwotrk and it doesn't help.
What else can get in the way of printing to a printer attached locally to a
networked PC?

 

[Neil Cameron]

I'll try all that - but it'll take a few days, thanks...

--
Neil

But they co-existed happily before.
Anyway, I've taken the Win 98 PC off the netwotrk and it doesn't help.
What else can get in the way of printing to a printer attached locally to
a
networked PC?

Neil,

I'm going to try and help you fix your problem, but we need to concentrate
on
why it doesn't work right now. I don't know what you changed (and neither
do
you, or you could fix it yourself), so let's focus on what's wrong.

You don't solve a browser conflict by simply taking one computer off the
network. Not reliably anyway.

You have to solve the problem. That may require you to read the articles
that I
provided.
# Pick one computer that will be online consistently and constantly, and
designate it the browser.
# Ensure that the browser service (and all other necessary services) is
started
on that one computer.
# Ensure that the browser service is stopped on all of the other
computers.

Please spend some time, and read these articles.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/windows-9x-9598me-and-browser.html>
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/04/nt-browser-or-why-cant-i-always-see.html>

Given the possibility that the browser is not the only problem, and this
does
not fix everything, let's try and figure out what your problem is.
Provide
"ipconfig /all" for all computers, and "browstat status" for all Windows
XP
computers. Follow these instructions:
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2005/05/troubleshooting-network-neighborhood.html#AskingForHelp>

--
Cheers,
Chuck [MS-MVP Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem - it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Neil Cameron]

I think I may have misled you; the printer is attached to one of the Win XP
PCs, not the Win 98 PC - does that make a difference?

 

[RRR_News]

Neil,
No, that is how my network is set up also.

1.Get your PC's networked together and make sure that you can share files
between them.

2. On the (HOST) PC that you have the printer connected to:
a. Installed the printer's drivers/software.
b. Make sure that it is set as a network printer not a local printer.
Control Panel> Printers & Faxes> Right click printer icon> Properties>
Sharing> Make sure it is selected as a Network Printer.
c. Also that the name of the printer contains less than 12 characters,
and no spaces in the name.
Control Panel> Printers & Faxes> Check name of printer> Right-click> Rename
it as instructed above.

3.With the printer "on". (This is the easiest way I found to do this).
a. Go to your other (CLIENT) network PC's one by one, install the
appropriate printer driver/software for that PC's OS.
b. Once it is installed. Goto> Control Panel> Printers & Faxes> Right
click the printer icon> Delete it.
c. Select Add Printer> Browse to XP PC w/printer> Select it. Apply/OK.

*It will probably ask you run a test page, I would, to make sure that
connection is good. Remember with Wireless PC's/Laptops the job may take a
little longer so wait until it completes.
**Again remember if the printer is an All-in-One> The scanning/copying
features may not be network compatible. So you will need to scan/copy, using
the HOST PC.
***Remember if you reinstall/upgrade the drivers/software on the HOST PC,
you may need to repeat steps #2 & #3 for all your PC's on the network. If
the reinstall/upgrade is for a CLIENT PC, then you should repeat step #3 on
that PC.
--

Click on Link to Add MS to your News Reader: news://msnews.microsoft.com
Rich/rerat

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I think I may have misled you; the printer is attached to one of the Win XP
PCs, not the Win 98 PC - does that make a difference?