Vanishing Network Printers from Printing & Faxs Folder

[CourtMCSE]

Alan:

I am Admin for small government LAN (250 users). Servers running Windows
2003 SP2 Std Server (x86) and all clients using XP Pro SP2 with all latest
patches being updated by WSUS 3.0.

Have 35 HP LaserJet printers (1300s, 2300s, 4200s, 4250s) on our Network
Print Server. Operation ran fine for over 3 years with few problems. However,
in the past 10 days have had numerous, but NOT all, clients lose network
printers from the local Desktop Printers and Faxs folder when they startup
and logon in the morning. Gone.

I've had to go to each client and using the Add A Printer Wizard, connect
them back to the networked printer (sometimes "printers" where several are
missing) they normally use. Printers are always listed, so Computer Browser
Service is functioning normally. Once reconnected, printing works fine for
the rest of the day. But next morning, the printers are gone again. Deleted.
Can find NO reference in any log file to any process that might account for
this action.

It is somewhat random, with some clients having to repeatly re-connect to
the network printers and other clients seem to just need to do it once or
twice. All PCs connect to network hard drives and that function is working
fine. Have NOT had to re-map any network HD resources for any PC.

Interestly, I have had a few clients that not only use Networked Printers,
but also have a private USB HP Printer attached to their PC. These clients
have lost not only there Networked Printers from there Printer and Faxes
Folder, but also their LOCAL ATTACHED USB PRINTER! I've had to reinstall HP
drivers to get them back up and functioning.

Interestly, this all began around the time when I tried to install a new
HP-1020n Network Printer as a replacement for a failed HP-1300n. The noramlly
excellent software HP provided on their installation disk DID NOT FUNCTION.
Was on the line to HP Tech Server for three hours. Finally had to use WIndows
XP Add A Printer Wizard in the Local USB Printer Mode to get the thing
installed, pointing the Wizzard to the HP Driver on the CD-ROM. It was a
mess. Never did make it to Network mode.

Then ALL of the HP printers starting having problems. Are you hearing any
noise from the community about problems related to HP Printer problems or
anything specifically to the HP-1020 series?

I'm trying to instruct all my clients on how to use the Add A Printer
Wizard, but having to do this each morning is NOT the way to be a popular IT
Administrator. I only hope that some HP former disgruntled employee did NOT
create a malicious print drive file on that HP-1020 series Installation
CD-ROM.

By the way, we use McAfee Enterprise AntiVirus and it is up to date and run
on every PC each day, usually between Noon and 1 PM and has found nothing.

Any ideas?

Thanks for all your help. You guys do a great job.

Jon Wells, MCSE

 

[Alan Morris [MSFT]]

This is news to me.

I know HP has some software to remove directly connected network printer but
your issue is with the connection. The software that HP has is HP CUE
Discovery but I don't think this is the issue.

I assume you have confirmed that the spooler is running. If you have to
start the spooler before running Add Printer there will be no enumerated
icons in the printers folder.

Take a look at the user registry location for the printer connections. If
there is nothing there, then you should not have printer connections on the
client.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Printers\Connections

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[CourtMCSE]

Dear Alan:

You guys are fantanstic. Thanks for your quick response.

Worked all night but located problem and fixed it. Logon Scripts. Using a
logon script for each department on the LAN, we attach network printers and
ALSO insure no extraneous network printers are attched, to the local PC at
the user's Logon using "rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry" instructions.

A week ago Friday I had one of my staff modify the scripts adding a couple
new networked printers. After she had one script correct, which she checked
with me, she thought she could "cut and paste" the update into the other 15
scripts. In several departments the correct printers were indeed attached but
than imediately REMOVED by the modified script, because they were removed as
unnessecary in the original department.

Needless to say, we went over that concept with her throughly. My face is
red. I apologize for taking your valuable time. I'm still having trouble with
trying to make the HP-1020 series printers a Network Printer, but no longer
think they infected my LAN. Will work with HP Tech Support on that one.

Sorry to take your valuable time anyway from other problems.

Jon
IT Administrator

 

[Alan Morris [MSFT]]

No problem taking time for this. I'm glad I helped point you in the
direction that found a resolution rather than progressing down wrong paths.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Dear Alan:

You guys are fantanstic. Thanks for your quick response.

Worked all night but located problem and fixed it. Logon Scripts. Using a
logon script for each department on the LAN, we attach network printers
and
ALSO insure no extraneous network printers are attched, to the local PC at
the user's Logon using "rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry" instructions.

A week ago Friday I had one of my staff modify the scripts adding a couple
new networked printers. After she had one script correct, which she
checked
with me, she thought she could "cut and paste" the update into the other
15
scripts. In several departments the correct printers were indeed attached
but
than imediately REMOVED by the modified script, because they were removed
as
unnessecary in the original department.

Needless to say, we went over that concept with her throughly. My face is
red. I apologize for taking your valuable time. I'm still having trouble
with
trying to make the HP-1020 series printers a Network Printer, but no
longer
think they infected my LAN. Will work with HP Tech Support on that one.

Sorry to take your valuable time anyway from other problems.

Jon
IT Administrator

This is news to me.

I know HP has some software to remove directly connected network printer
but
your issue is with the connection. The software that HP has is HP CUE
Discovery but I don't think this is the issue.

I assume you have confirmed that the spooler is running. If you have to
start the spooler before running Add Printer there will be no enumerated
icons in the printers folder.

Take a look at the user registry location for the printer connections.
If
there is nothing there, then you should not have printer connections on
the
client.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Printers\Connections

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.