XP network/printer nightmare

[gregf]

I have several XP PCs, and all the sudden one of them can't find the
network printer. I did yesterday, but today it won't work. I thought I
would delete the printer, then use the Add Printer Wizard to just
reinstall it. But now it can't even find it. It can connect to the
shared internet connection (the switch and router/modem) but just can't
seem to find the rest of the net work. I don't know what would have
changed this all the sudden, but I've noticed XP likes to do this now
and the- lose the printer and make me do a little dance to try and
connect it again. I alway suscceed, but only after much frustration and
never knowing what actually fixed it. Lots of rebooting and searching
and magically one time it might actually find it. Is there something
else I can do to connect to it? When I do a Browse For Printer, it only
finds the Microsoft WIndows Network, not everthing below it, which the
other PCs can find, and that's where the PC with the network printer
should be. It's just not showing up. The other PCs can find it just
fine. The IP address has not changed. I have no idea what to do.

 

[Mark]

I have several XP PCs, and all the sudden one of them can't find the
network printer. I did yesterday, but today it won't work. I thought I
would delete the printer, then use the Add Printer Wizard to just
reinstall it. But now it can't even find it. It can connect to the
shared internet connection (the switch and router/modem) but just can't
seem to find the rest of the net work. I don't know what would have
changed this all the sudden, but I've noticed XP likes to do this now
and the- lose the printer and make me do a little dance to try and
connect it again. I alway suscceed, but only after much frustration and
never knowing what actually fixed it. Lots of rebooting and searching
and magically one time it might actually find it. Is there something
else I can do to connect to it? When I do a Browse For Printer, it only
finds the Microsoft WIndows Network, not everthing below it, which the
other PCs can find, and that's where the PC with the network printer
should be. It's just not showing up. The other PCs can find it just
fine. The IP address has not changed. I have no idea what to do.

Try restarting the print spooler service in Services...stop and then restart
it.

 

[gregf]

Well I finally figured out that I just had to reboot the PC that the
printer was attached to. But still, I don't understand why Windows XP
loves to just "dump" the printer now and then. Is there a way to add a
printer and then just "cement" it there so it can't be disabled by some
behind the scenes windows machinery?

 

[Mark]

Well I finally figured out that I just had to reboot the PC that the
printer was attached to. But still, I don't understand why Windows XP
loves to just "dump" the printer now and then. Is there a way to add a
printer and then just "cement" it there so it can't be disabled by some
behind the scenes windows machinery?

I have several PC's at work " XP" do this once and a while...it's usually
the spooler service has stopped. Why, I don't know!!!!