Printers are showing ports NE00, nothing prints out

G

Guest

This is on a desktop that is running Windows XP Home, all my printers are
showing that they are connected to usb ports. When it comes time to print,
they are listed and printing to NE00, NE01, NE02, NE03 etc. ports. Nothing
gets printed! I'm getting so desperate, that I am reduced to plugging in a
small printer in the front usb port so that I can print tips or instructions,
then unplugging it. I'm afraid that soon that port will be turned to
something I can't access. I'm not sure when this began but it has affected my
programs that I print items through. Please help, I'm at a loss!
 
P

Paul Baker [MVP, Windows - Networking]

Only certain programs use port names NE00, NE01, NE02, NE03, etc... I have
seen older versions of Microsoft Word do that. I think it is making a
temporary port that is redirected to a network printer instead of just using
the network printer directly. Of course, it's not even a network printer
from what you describe. I would test it with a program that doesn't do that.

Does a Test Page print correctly? Is Notepad able to print correctly?

Does your printer show up in the Device Manager? I think it would be in the
properties of the USB controller to which it is attached, where it lists
attached devices.

Did it ever work? If so, what changed?

Paul
 
G

Guest

Thanks for the reply. All printers have worked, they won't print with all
components of Office 2000, Quicken 2004, Adobe Acrobat 7 Professional,
Notepad, Wordpad, Corel - you name it, these ports have taken over the usb
settings. All of the printers are good to go, just these ports have taken
over everything and I don't know how to get them deleted or removed.
 
P

Paul Baker [MVP, Windows - Networking]

Some software is messing with you.

Open each printer properties dialogs and, on the Ports page, change the port
to what you want (USB*) and click OK.

Then open the Print Server Properties dialog using File | Print Server
Properties. Use it to delete all these silly NE* ports. Just out of
curiousity, what is in the Description column for these ports (in either
place)?

Now, print a Test Page using the "Print Test Page" button on the printer
properties dialog? Then print from Notepad. Did these work?

Then keep trying one application at a time until something "breaks".

Paul
 
G

Guest

The ports read as follows:

USB005 Virtual printer port for USB hp officejet 825c series
USB004 Virtual printer port for USB Canon MP830 Series Printer
USB003 Virtual printer port for USB HP OfficeJet Pro K850 Series
USB002 Virtual printer port for USB Canon MP830 FAX
USB001 Virtual printer port for USB

There are no NE** ports showing on the Print Server window. That's why I'm
at a loss as to where I can delete these settings, I've been looking through
all my settings to find where I could remove the information.
 
P

Paul Baker [MVP, Windows - Networking]

Okay, then where are these NE* ports showing up exactly?

There may be a third party (HP or Canon) port monitor causing this. I am
pretty sure that the Description is not supposed to be "Virtual printer port
for USB".

Port monitors are registered in this registry key:
HKLM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors

You can try deleting suspicious entries from here, and each time you do so,
reboot and check the Ports page of the printer properties again. You will
want to backup that registry key first, and please be careful.

Also make sure you have a USB Monitor key with a value Driver=usbmon.dll.

BTW Google will let you search old newsgroup posts. You will find several
threads with a similar problem to yours, though I can't extract anything
useful out of them myself:
http://groups.google.com/advanced_group_search

I would try a Test Page.

Paul
 
G

Guest

I have never edited the registry before, where do I find the key. Should I
make a copy of the whole registry?
 
P

Paul Baker [MVP, Windows - Networking]

If you've never edited the registry before, find someone who has. I'm not
willing to try to explain it to you in this medium, because of the risk of
damage to your system that I will be liable for.

Paul
 
G

Guest

Do you have a suggestion as to how I can remove all the printer settings and
then reinstall each without having to tamper with the registry. The first
instance of my issues showed up through running Quicken 2004 when I went to
print reports and has been showing up more and more in other programs now. I
appreciate your time and help, thanks, Ann
 
P

Paul Baker [MVP, Windows - Networking]

Ann,

This page tells you how to clean up third party printer software:
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm

You don't have to delete your printer drivers, but you should follow the
part about Cleanspl.exe. This should do the job for you of removing those
registry entries, as well as some other things.

I suggested that you look through all your printer manuals for any mention
of a USB to serial port or that it installs a port monitor for that purpose.

Since it is potentially HP or Canon software that is causing the problem,
you could seek technical support from those companies and they may be able
to tell you if you have a USB-to-serial port or and if it installs a port
monitor.

Paul
 
G

Guest

Thanks, I'll check it out, I've just ran out of ideas. I've been on
Quicken's, HP and Canon's sites and haven't found anything remotely solving
this problem. It started before I added the Canon printer, just the recent
weeks has it been more difficult to get work printed.
 
P

Paul Baker [MVP, Windows - Networking]

The port monitor software could have been installed by HP, worked initially,
but then failed at some point for whatever reason.

You didn't run out of ideas, because I gave you several. So take a deep
breath, and try it. Good luck.

Paul
 
G

Guest

I'm back, I've changed my printers around and did some system changes. I gave
up using the Quicken on my desktop, installed in on my laptop, connected it
to a HP Deskjet 825c on a USB 2.0 port. My control panel shows that the
printer is on the USB port. Installed the Quicken and restored by data file.
It shows the printer on NE00. BUT -- it seems to be printing through this
setting for the time being (probably until I turn the computer off). My
desktop is working fine with all the printers now in other programs so at
least I can work and print for now. Thanks for the tips, truly
appreciated!!!!!!
 
P

Paul Baker [MVP, Windows - Networking]

Ann,

I hope this continues to work for you. Please take note of my suggestions if
it happens again, so we don't have to go through all this again.

Paul
 
G

Guest

Thanks Paul, I'm copying everything to a document! I truly appreciate your
patience and expertise to help all of us out here that have no formal
training. There are times when I can reason out issues but this really had me
baffled. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season, you've made mine easier!

Ann
 
Joined
Feb 22, 2016
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Mine was doing the same thing and was saying the same port as yours. It turned out that I had forgot that I had a new modem installed, and forgot to change to the new wifi location and password on my printer. Started printing fine and on the same port NE00.
 

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