Was it the HP 4200 update? I am having the same exact problem. This
happened on my Print Server and so
every workstation received this error message when trying to print from Int
ernet Explorer (File - Print) or if they tried to open the "Printing Prefere
nces" on an HP 4200 printer.
I was able to fix the server (I can now print and open the "printing prefere
nces" from the server, but every workstation on the network now has these "c
orrupt" drivers. Removing the printer connection and then re-adding the pri
nter connection does not "update" or refresh the drivers. Can anyone tell me
how I can force a "refresh" or update to the drivers when they connect to t
he print server?
As far as fixing the problem on the server, I had to (PLEASE make sure you b
ack up first) stop the spooler service, go into the registry, and remove the
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Win
dows NT x86\Drivers\Version-3" key under here which pertained to my printer
(HP LaserJet 4200 PCL 6). If you restart the spooler, your 4200 printers wi
ll not show up. You have to add a local printer, using the OEM drivers for
the HP LJ 4200. One the driver is "re-installed" stop and start your print
spooler again and your 4200 printers will show up.
As I mentioned, now the server itself works fine, but this doesn't help my u
sers because the workstations still have the corrput drivers. If I delete t
he drivers out of the \SYSTEM32\SPOOL\DRIVERS\W32X86\3 directory manually, t
hen add the printer, the new drivers are downloaded to the workstation autom
atically but I can't figure out how to automate this.
Well, hope that helps you. If anyone can help me, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks
Chris
