Have to keep Stopping and Starting print spooler

[M Skabialka]

I added a new network printer to our server and installed it on user
machines. It is one of several printers on the server, all available to
users.
Since it is a color printer it isn't used very often, but each time someone
tries to use it their job sits in the queue for the printer, and doesn't
print. All other printers continue to work. If I then stop the Print
spooler on the server (which hasn't stopped running) then restart it, the
printer starts processing jobs in the queue.

Where should I be looking for a solution to this problem?
PCs all WinXP, Server 2003, Printer HP Color LaserJet 5550dn
Mich

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

Someone with the 5550dn installed has a corrupted driver. Of course,, which
PC this is installed on is up to you to discover. Personally I'd start with
the Server and work outwards, but it's up to you. What you don't say is how
many PCs are in this network. If they are running XP Pro and you have more
than 10, you are exceeding the maximum number of connections and what the PC
that wants to print is waiting for is for another of the PCs to disconnect.
XP Home has a mere 5. In this case, you need to move the "Server" to a real
Server operating system, either Windows Small Business Server or a real
Server O/S. SBS has a limitation of 49 simultaneous connections, a true
Server O/S has unlimited connections. Windows 7 Premium/Ultimate allows 20
simultaneous connections.

So either one of the drivers is corrupt or one PC is timing out, waiting for
another to go away so it can 'reach' the printer.

 

[Alan Morris [MSFT]]

In Printer Properties on the Ports tab disable Bidirectional.

Most likely you will find that admins can print to this device since the
language Monitor requires a resource that only admins can access.

When you stop and start the spooler, the job is not scheduled in the user
account context and thus prints.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[M Skabialka]

On both the server and PCs "Enable bidirectional support" is greyed out and
unchecked. The port on the server is set up as a standard TCP/IP port, as
are all other printers. There are fewer than 10 users, probably never
simultaneous users for this printer.
Even when it won't print, it shows as Ready in the list of available
printers. I have admin privileges and my documents also get stuck in the
queue.

Any other ideas?
Mich

 

[M Skabialka]

If the driver is corrupted, why would it print after the print spooler is
restarted?
I have reinstalled the latest drivers on the server, downloaded from HP.
There are fewer than 10 users, and color is not used very often, so
conflicts are not the answer. I tried to print yesterday but found a job in
the queue from last week. After stopping and starting the spooler from the
server both jobs printed.
The users are on XP Pro, the server is a "real" server with Windows Server
2003.
Mich

 

[Alan Morris [MSFT]]

what is the security setting for the printer? Anything different from other
printers?

Use a different but compatible driver? Add a printer using the inbox Color
Laser 4600 print driver targeting the same network port. If it works with a
different driver, it has something to do with the 5550 you have installed.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[M Skabialka]

Same security settings exactly as the others.
How do you install a printer driver that doesn't match your actual printer?
It kept defaulting to the 5550 drivers.
Mich

 

[Alan Morris [MSFT]]

First you can't use a setup utility from the vendor, you will always get
stuck with the driver packaged with setup.

Use the Add Printer Wizard and select the port created by the setup program
or create a new port if you have the IP or hostname for the device. I would
verify the port configuration anyway before using any port created by HP.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[M Skabialka]

I did that - it still detected and installed the 5550 - I didn't get the
option of installing another printer.

 

[Alan Morris [MSFT]]

Open a cmd prompt


rundll32 printui,PrintUIEntry /il
Next
Local printer (uncheck the box to detect the USB and LPT connected devices)
Select the Standard TCP/IP Port created by the HP setup utility (if HP did
not create a Port using the inbox Port monitor, cerate one at this time)
Select HP
Select a Color laserjet driver other than the 5550
Set a printer name
Next
Set a share name
Next
Next
Next
Next
Finish

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.