Printing problems Windows 2000 server

[Michel]

Hello,

Ik have big problems with a windows 2000 server and XP
Workstations.
The problem is, that on the server all the printing
preferences are correctly set, but when XP users try to
print, documents won't print at all or the layout of the
documents is incorrect.

When new drivers are installed, the problem is solved for
a while. But after some time the original problem returns.

Is this a printer spooler problem, or do I have to look
somewhere else?

 

[Jason Hall [MSFT]]

--------------------
Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message
From: "Michel" <[email protected]>
Sender: "Michel" <[email protected]>
Subject: Printing problems Windows 2000 server
Date: Mon, 17 May 2004 06:27:49 -0700

Hello,

Ik have big problems with a windows 2000 server and XP
Workstations.
The problem is, that on the server all the printing
preferences are correctly set, but when XP users try to
print, documents won't print at all or the layout of the
documents is incorrect.

When new drivers are installed, the problem is solved for
a while. But after some time the original problem returns.

Is this a printer spooler problem, or do I have to look
somewhere else?
----------------------

Does the issue only happen from the XP clients?
The fact that reinstalling the drivers seems to temporarily solve the
problem is interesting:
- When you say "new drivers are installed", are you refering to
actually uninstalling the printer drivers on the workstations (Printers &
Faxes > File > Server Properties > Drivers), or just removing the installed
printer and adding it again, re-using the existing drivers?

I don't think you have a spooler problem, or else the spooler would likely
be crashing.

**As a general troubleshooting step, you may want to consider removing
third-party port monitors on the server**
Check the following registry key for third-party monitors. Remove any
non-default monitors:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors
(NOTE: Do not remove the HP Master Monitor if it exists, make sure it is
upgraded to version 4.2)
The default port monitors are:
- AppleTalk Printing Devices (When Services for Macintosh is installed)
- BJ Language Monitor
- Local Port
- PJL Language Monitor
- Standard TCP/IP Port
- USB Monitor
- Windows NT Fax Monitor (when applicable)


--
~~ JASON HALL ~~
~ Performance Support Specialist,
~ Microsoft Enterprise Platforms Support
~ This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.
~ Use of included script samples are subject to the terms specified at
http://www.microsoft.com/info/cpyright.htm
~ Note: For the benefit of the community-at-large, all responses to this
message are best directed to the newsgroup/thread from which they
originated.

 

[Michel]

Does the issue only happen from the XP clients?
The fact that reinstalling the drivers seems to temporarily solve the
problem is interesting:
- When you say "new drivers are installed", are you refering to
actually uninstalling the printer drivers on the workstations (Printers &
Faxes > File > Server Properties > Drivers), or just removing the installed
printer and adding it again, re-using the existing drivers?

I don't think you have a spooler problem, or else the spooler would likely
be crashing.

**As a general troubleshooting step, you may want to consider removing
third-party port monitors on the server**
Check the following registry key for third-party monitors. Remove any
non-default monitors:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print \Monitors
(NOTE: Do not remove the HP Master Monitor if it exists, make sure it is
upgraded to version 4.2)
The default port monitors are:
- AppleTalk Printing Devices (When Services for Macintosh is installed)
- BJ Language Monitor
- Local Port
- PJL Language Monitor
- Standard TCP/IP Port
- USB Monitor
- Windows NT Fax Monitor (when applicable)


--
~~ JASON HALL ~~
~ Performance Support Specialist,
~ Microsoft Enterprise Platforms Support
~ This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.
~ Use of included script samples are subject to the terms specified at
http://www.microsoft.com/info/cpyright.htm
~ Note: For the benefit of the community-at-large, all responses to this
message are best directed to the newsgroup/thread from which they
originated.

------------------------------------------------>
Jason, Thanks for your reply. Since it's a production
enviromont I will check your tip, in the evening, to see
if that solves some problems.

In answer on your questions. Upto now I only have these
problems with XP workstations. Some NT workstations still
exist on the network, but as far as I know, they don't
have any problems.

Reinstalling drivers? Yes, I have uninstalled the printer
and installed it again, with the latest drivers (XP
drivers and not W2000 drivers as first were installed by
the customer itself)

What we, the support team are thinking about, is to
install for all the printers the latest printer drivers
(about 300 printers). Have users (mayby via script)
remove all their installed printers. And after that have
all users install their printers again. Because when we
test this via a Model Office Workstation (To wich we can
connect remotly) it seem to work for most problems.