UPDATE: Printer found and I don't have a printer.

[Carl Brooks]

In regards to the problem discussed in this thread :

http://groups.google.com/group/micr...uns+every+time&rnum=10&hl=en#2751ccf35f663fbd

THe poster had a PC that ran the Found New Hardware Wizard at every
boot, which found "Printer", despite having no printers attached or
installed.

I have some new information to add (mostly for archival prurposes, I
know the OP is probably no longer interested)

I encountered a Dell Inspiron 8200 with the same behavior. after
tryiong the LPTENUM fix and disabling stuff in the BIOS, etc, all of
which had no effect on the problem, I used msconfig to disable System
Services; the problem disappeared on the next boot.

there was a Lexmark Z22-Z32 printer installed, but no Lexmark software
on the system.
I removed the printer; the client has not connected a printer to the
notebook.

Long story short, the problem lies in the Plug And Play Service.
enabling it causes the behavior to appear. this is independedant of all
the other system services except the mandatory ones.

I tried the following resolutions- re-installing UPnP- no dice.

sfc /scannow

Uninstalling XP SP2 - no dice

re-installing XP SP2 - nothing

al the regkeys under HKLM\..\PlugPlay appear normal.

so in the interests of expediency and thoroughness, I'm going to
recommend re-imaging the system, but I just thought I'd throw that out
there as supplementary info

carl

 

[Malke]

In regards to the problem discussed in this thread :

http://groups.google.com/group/micr...uns+every+time&rnum=10&hl=en#2751ccf35f663fbd

THe poster had a PC that ran the Found New Hardware Wizard at every
boot, which found "Printer", despite having no printers attached or
installed.

I have some new information to add (mostly for archival prurposes, I
know the OP is probably no longer interested)

I encountered a Dell Inspiron 8200 with the same behavior. after
tryiong the LPTENUM fix and disabling stuff in the BIOS, etc, all of
which had no effect on the problem, I used msconfig to disable System
Services; the problem disappeared on the next boot.

there was a Lexmark Z22-Z32 printer installed, but no Lexmark software
on the system.

(snippage)

Actually, new Dells come with printer drivers for Dell printers
preinstalled - which printers are made by Lexmark. Next time, try
uninstalling the additional Dell printer drivers, which you can do from
Add/Remove Programs and see if that helps.

Malke

 

[Carl Brooks]

Malke wrote:

(snippage)

Actually, new Dells come with printer drivers for Dell printers
preinstalled - which printers are made by Lexmark. Next time, try
uninstalling the additional Dell printer drivers, which you can do from
Add/Remove Programs and see if that helps.

nope- no additional printer drivers other than the regualr XP bundle-
that was the first thing I checked for, given the spectacularly rotten
hisory of Lexmark softare problems.

this issue is related to the Plug And Play Service- whether in the
executable, some associated files, or their registry settings, I don't
know.

I suppose it is theoretically possible that pre-installed Lexmark
drivers could have corrupted the PnP service, or screwed up the way the
print spooler relates to it; wouldn't surprise me.

carl

 

[Kerry Brown]

In regards to the problem discussed in this thread :

http://groups.google.com/group/micr...uns+every+time&rnum=10&hl=en#2751ccf35f663fbd

THe poster had a PC that ran the Found New Hardware Wizard at every
boot, which found "Printer", despite having no printers attached or
installed.

I have some new information to add (mostly for archival prurposes, I
know the OP is probably no longer interested)

I encountered a Dell Inspiron 8200 with the same behavior. after
tryiong the LPTENUM fix and disabling stuff in the BIOS, etc, all of
which had no effect on the problem, I used msconfig to disable System
Services; the problem disappeared on the next boot.

there was a Lexmark Z22-Z32 printer installed, but no Lexmark software
on the system.
I removed the printer; the client has not connected a printer to the
notebook.

Long story short, the problem lies in the Plug And Play Service.
enabling it causes the behavior to appear. this is independedant of
all the other system services except the mandatory ones.

I tried the following resolutions- re-installing UPnP- no dice.

sfc /scannow

Uninstalling XP SP2 - no dice

re-installing XP SP2 - nothing

al the regkeys under HKLM\..\PlugPlay appear normal.

so in the interests of expediency and thoroughness, I'm going to
recommend re-imaging the system, but I just thought I'd throw that out
there as supplementary info

carl

Could it be a network printer through a wireless connection? I've seen this
with several residential unsecured wireless networks in close proximity.

Kerry

 

[Carl Brooks]

Kerry Brown wrote:
\..\PlugPlay appear normal.

Could it be a network printer through a wireless connection? I've seen this
with several residential unsecured wireless networks in close proximity.

nope- we isolated it at the shop, went down the logical chain of
consequences, and arrived at the PnP. it seems to be a rare foobar, but
it is consistent when it appears.

its definitely something with the PnP service. whether its the actual
service that's borked or something about the printer services that
interact with it, i can't say- i'm not that hot

maybe some uber XP-er will look at my conclusions and that will clue
them in to something I don't know.

carl