network printer

[Gatael]

Hi all,

I'm having an issue where a network printer won't work for all users
on the network but will randomly work for 5-10 users. The network is a
windows 2003 server with approximately 50 XP Pro machines. The printer
is an HP 2300 connected to the server via LPT port.

If I log into all the machines approximately 5-10 will be able to
print a test page and the rest will give an error saying the printer is
not available. At first I thought perhaps it was a rights issues so I
gave access to everyone. This did not help the problem any. If I
deleted the printer and installed the driver all over agian it would
work on that machine again. But if I logged into all the machines all
over again a different set of compters would work.

Anyone have any ideas? I have tried adding the printer via a login
script but have the same issue.

If this isn't in the correct group I'm sorry but I thought I'd
start here since it doesn't seem to me to be a issue with the printer
itself.

TIA

Grant

 

[Brian Cryer]

Hi all,

I'm having an issue where a network printer won't work for all users
on the network but will randomly work for 5-10 users. The network is a
windows 2003 server with approximately 50 XP Pro machines. The printer
is an HP 2300 connected to the server via LPT port.

If I log into all the machines approximately 5-10 will be able to
print a test page and the rest will give an error saying the printer is
not available. At first I thought perhaps it was a rights issues so I
gave access to everyone. This did not help the problem any. If I
deleted the printer and installed the driver all over agian it would
work on that machine again. But if I logged into all the machines all
over again a different set of compters would work.

Anyone have any ideas? I have tried adding the printer via a login
script but have the same issue.

If this isn't in the correct group I'm sorry but I thought I'd
start here since it doesn't seem to me to be a issue with the printer
itself.

TIA

Grant

I don't have any ideas, but since no-one has suggested anything, these are
some questions which hopefully might trigger something:

1. Is it the first 5-10 people who can print? ie the first who try to
connect to the printer?

2. Is there anything relevant logged in the event log- either on the pc
trying to use the printer or on the server?

3. When you say they can't print, do you mean they simply cannot connect to
the printer at all (such as when someone doesn't have access rights - which
I know you've checked).

4. Are there any other printers connected to the server, and if so are those
okay?

Sorry these are questions rather than answers.

 

[Gatael]

Thanks Brian,

To answer your questions.

1. No it's not the first 5-10 it's truly is random. I've plotted it
out a couple times and it's rare that the same computer cannot access
it twice in a row. Besides if I remove the printer and reinstall it,
they can print.

2. Nothing in the logs that I have found and I've scoured both the
server log and the local machine log.

3. I can't remember the exact error message, but it's not a permission
denied type error more of the printer is unavalible type error.
Besides like I said I've now opened the printer up to everyone with
full control and it hasn't improved.

4. This is the only printer connected to that network.

Any insite you might have would be greatly appreciated. Some more
information that i may not have added yet. After I reinstalled the
printer on every machine it did exactly the same thing. While
reinstalling the printer seems to work, it will only do so until I
reboot the machines, then the fun starts all over again.

Thanks a lot!

Grant

 

[Cameron Dorrough]

Thanks Brian,

To answer your questions.

1. No it's not the first 5-10 it's truly is random. I've plotted it
out a couple times and it's rare that the same computer cannot access
it twice in a row. Besides if I remove the printer and reinstall it,
they can print.

2. Nothing in the logs that I have found and I've scoured both the
server log and the local machine log.

3. I can't remember the exact error message, but it's not a permission
denied type error more of the printer is unavalible type error.
Besides like I said I've now opened the printer up to everyone with
full control and it hasn't improved.

4. This is the only printer connected to that network.

Any insite you might have would be greatly appreciated. Some more
information that i may not have added yet. After I reinstalled the
printer on every machine it did exactly the same thing. While
reinstalling the printer seems to work, it will only do so until I
reboot the machines, then the fun starts all over again.

Thanks a lot!

Grant

A couple of things you might try:

1. Make sure you are using the latest driver (from the Web, not the CD -
throw the CD away it's blooming useless) and that you have installed it on
all machines whilst logged in with Administrator priveledges.

2. Restart the server first, then the client machines. If the printer
comes up as "not available" stop the Print Spooler and restart it.

From bitter experience I discovered that the earlier versions of the HP2300
driver do not work very well... If all else fails, try HP Support. Good
luck.

Cameron