Problem with network printers

[Guest]

Clean install of XP SP2, latest drivers for everything and all windows updates.

I can add a network printer through the Add Printer wizard inside Printers
and Faxes, no problem. I can then print to it no problem.

The problem comes when I restart or log off and back on. If I click Printers
and Faxes from the start menu or double click it in Control Panel I get the
small hourglass icon for a couple of seconds and then nothing else happens.
If I try and print from a program it just crashes it, doesn't make a
difference what program I try and use.

Any help much appreciated, this is most frustrating as a machine you can't
print from is about as much use as a chocolate teapot

I have tried reinstalling XP and that made no difference. All the other
computers on the network are having no problems with printing

 

[thecreator]

Hi Thomas,

I have a Network Printer also. I had problems also, until I turned off the Firewalls.

But I used the Manufacturer's software to install the Printer. Trying to use the Add Printer function always fails.

What is the Brand and Model Number of your Printer? Does the Router see the Printer?

 

[Guest]

I managed to sort it out by doing the following...

Use any uninstall software you might have for any drivers

Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services

Stop the Print Spool service

Open explorer, windows\system32\spool\drivers

delete everything from there, reboot, and reinstall the printer (print spool
service will automatically restart with windows)

it's working fine for me now, so i can only assume that one/some of the
files in that directory was corrupted and windows kept re-using it when i was
trying to reinstall the printer

hope this helps