Network printer....seems to time-out ??

[Guest]

Hi,

First a few details of the network setup:
- 16 PCs (Windows XP Pro)
- 1 Server (Windows Server 2003)
- Wireless Network

Other details:
- Printer is NOT connected to the server because it doesn't support my
printer model (HP Laserjet 3380).
- Printer IS connected to a PC running Windows XP. I have it as a shared
printer.
- I'm not using a print server (and I don't intend to, if possible).

Problem:
I can get the printer working on all the PCs, but after a few hours I
sometimes have to re-establish the connection by doing Start > Run... >
\\computer0\hp (ie. printer location).
Once I do this one of two things happen:
(1) The print queue window opens and the PC is once again connected to the
printer.
(2) After 1 or 2 minutes a windows opens looking for my administrator
password. Once I enter that, the print queue window opens and the PC is once
again connected to the printer.

It's really annoying having to do this to each computer every day. I'm
guessing that the network is somehow timing me out??? However, it's only a
guess .

My level of computer expertise isn't too high, so please don't use any
complicated words

Any ideas? Have any of you experienced this kind of problem?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

XP Pro has a connection limitation of 10 (XP Home is just 5). When the 11th
PC tries to connect to the printer it will have to wait until one of the
first 10 frees up the connection.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply Cari
I didn't know that XP had a connection limit of 10 !

"When the 11th PC tries to connect to the printer it will have to wait until
one of the
first 10 frees up the connection."
By "frees up the connection" do you mean "completes printing"?
If I tested the network with just 10 PCs working, should that work without
me having to reconnect the PCs to the printer after several hours?

I'm still going to try to find a solution (if possible!). It seems strange
that ALL of the computers can print, but they lose their connection after
several hours. Rebooting or reconnecting to the printer are the 2 best
solutions I have so far.

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

What exactly happens if you try to connect the HP 3380 to the Server 2003
PC?

 

[Bruce Sanderson]

Although there is no "Windows 2003" driver on the HP web site, I suspect you
could install the XP driver on Windows 2003 successfully.

The Windows 2000 driver may work also, but you then may have to add the
Windows XP driver as an "Additional Driver".

--
Bruce Sanderson MVP Printing
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.

 

[Guest]

Cari,
I haven't tried to connect the printer to the server because there are no
Windows Server 2003 drivers available. I might try the idea in the post by
"Bruce Sanderson", just to see if it works.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply Bruce,
I'll try your idea as soon as I can. There might be a delay because I'm
running an internet cafe which is open 10 hours every day. This leaves me
with little time to test.

Here's an idea I think I might try in the meantime:
I might create a batch file that connects each PC to the printer and put it
in the Start Up folder. I could also assign it to a keyboard button.
Net use \\computer0\hp /USER:Administrator? password /Persistant:Yes
.....and save it as a ".BAT" file.