Vista - default printer doesn't stay as default

[Guest]

I have set up several printers and have one network printer assigned as
'default' printer. I have noticed that this 'default' status for this printer
does not remain so after I shut down and reboot. It seems to default to the
Fax printer. I then have to reset the chosen printer as 'default' in order to
print. This happens not everytime I shut down - sometimes the default printer
stays as default.

Anyone have similar experiences? Solution to the problem?
Thanks.

Best regards,
S.F. Kang

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

It will default to the first one it finds after logon, so in your case, I'm
thinking the logon to the network is taking longer, therefore it finds the
fax first.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your info. Yes, the fax is first in line amongst the printers. Is
there a way I can make the default printer stay? Yes I do notice it doesn't
happen everytime, so it might happen when my system takes longer to logon to
the network. Can I rename the printer so it appears first on the list? Other
solutions? Thanks. Much appreciate your info.

br/freddie

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

The only real solution would be to disable the fax printer which probably
isn't much use if you occasionally need it.

 

[Atrox]

I am having this same problem. This was not an issue in Windows XP- when you
selected a default printer it stayed the default printer. Did you ever find
a solution to this problem in Windows Vista?
Thanks!

 

[mingblus3]

Same issue here, have removed the XPS document writer, and it still defaults to our OKI printer even though we set our network laserjet as default.

I've also removed the laserjet and created a standard local TCP/IP port and configured it this way. It worked for about a week then the system crashed on monday, it performed a recovery and now the same problem happens again. The end-user is now having to remove the printer every morning just so that they can use the laser as default.

The option to remove all printers is out of the question as the OKI is colour and its required for other print work.

All confidence has been lost in Vista

 

[Matthew Kitchin]

Same problem here. It was defaulting to a fax printer, so I deleted that. Now
it goes to Microsoft Docuemnt image writer. This is a very annoying problem
that is new in Vista.

 

[LambChop]

Do you have any issues printing to the printer that you want to be the
default? Do you have outlook and if so can you print out of outlook to the
printer that will not stay the default? Is the printer that will not stay
the default a networked printer or a locally attached printer?

My History with this issue (or what I beleive is the same issue you're
having.):
I'm having an issue and it has to do with Office products and vista. Office
products can't print to a networked printer. I've moved the que's to a 2008
server and that fixed 99% of my issues but I still have one that can't ever
print toe the 2008 que's.

 

[brbgtgp]

Changing a User's Default Printer in the Registry
See Article ID: 156212

HKCU \Software \Microsoft \Windows NT \CurrentVersion \Windows

Device Reg_SZ Data (here you make the device changes.)

Note: You will see the Devices folder under the CurrentVersion with the list
of printer devices installed, their spooler and connection type.

 

[brbgtgp]

Changing a User's Default Printer in the Registry
See Article ID: 156212

HKCU \Software \Microsoft \Windows NT \CurrentVersion \Windows

Device Reg_SZ Data (here you make the device changes.)

Note: You will see the Devices folder under the CurrentVersion with the list
of printer devices installed, their spooler and connection type.

So I encountered same thing today, unable to print acrobat reader.

There are a few things you should look for... This applies from win2K until
vista
HKCU\Software\Microsoft \Windows NT \Current Version \Windows

If you do not have the Windows key, borrow from a friend.
Right-click then Export the key...
Go to original workstation then double-click on printer.reg this will apply
the tree into the hive.

or Copy below into a notepad.exe and rename printer.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows]
"DebugOptions"="2048"
"Documents"=""
"DosPrint"="no"
"Load"=""
"NetMessage"="no"
"NullPort"="None"
"Programs"="com exe bat pif cmd"
"device"="Any printer name1,winspool,Ne01:"

OK. So let's move on to changing values. Let's look into Devices or
PrinterPorts
Verify your device listed.

example
Any printer name4 REG_SZ winspool, Ne03;
Any printer name3 REG_SZ winspool, Ne02;
Any printer name2 REG_SZ winspool, Ne01;
Any printer name1 REG_SZ winspool, Ne00;

In the windows key, right-click "device" then modify...
in Value data field, enter below
Any printer name1,winspool,Ne01:

Where it says "any printer name1" look into your system devices and pick one
that applies to you. (please do not stick your head inside the computer.)

ALT+F4 to close

 

[Fred Hof]

I have set up several printers and have one network printer assigned as
'default' printer. I have noticed that this 'default' status for this printer
does not remain so after I shut down and reboot. It seems to default to the
Fax printer. I then have to reset the chosen printer as 'default' in order to
print. This happens not everytime I shut down - sometimes the default printer
stays as default.

Anyone have similar experiences? Solution to the problem?
Thanks.

Best regards,
S.F. Kang

S.F.,

I had a similar problem with 3 client machines. Long story short: it was a
corrupt NTuser.DAT file which we renamed .old and replaced with the
ntuser.dat file from the default user folder. This was a pain in that the
profile had to be setup from scratch again but at least default remains
default at the end of the day. Anyway, this was my experience after working
the issue w/ MS support for 10+ hours. If anyone has found a better fix I'd
be much obliged.

 

[William McFarland]

My network printer has an IP Port yet the default printer still changes from
this printer to the fax on re-boot. Deleting the fax printer causes the
default to change to Microsoft Document imaging. Is anyone aware of another
work around or solution?

 

[William McFarland]

Wa a solution for this problem every posted?