Desktop

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Admin can Print-User cannot print-W2K

0 helpful
7 replies

by mike.brooks

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

I am having trouble getting a HP deskjet printer to work for a visitor from our Australian branch. This visitor has a notebook computer which when logged on to the Australian network redirects prints to lpt1 to a network printer. I found the following batch file called P001.bat in the 'Startup' programs: -

@echo off
cls
echo .
echo .
net use lpt1 /d
net use lpt1 \\AU-A-S001\AU-A-P001
rem pause

Now I thought I just had to remove this batch file from the startup options so that it would not run, and then set-up a local printer connected to port lpt1 and everything would be okay. No such luck every time I go to print the prints get spooled, yet do not print - it is as if port lpt1 does not exist? If I sign on as a local admin everything works fine.

Can anyone point me in the right direction to solve this problem, I feel it may require altering the registry - also what exactly does the 'net use lpt1 /d' actually do?

I feel the lpt1 port has somehow gone AWOL (just for this user) but do not know where to look for the answer?

All suggestions gratefully appreciated.

7 replies

by deltree

From the command prompt type net use /?. This lists what all the switches mean.

I assume you are using NT. If this is the case, remember that printers are user profile specific. (i.e. When you set up a printer in NT, it is only installed for the logged in user.) If a new user logs into the workstation, she or he will pull the default ntuser.dat file, which has no printers installed.
You must install the printer with the visitor logged in.

Another thing you might try (haven't tried this myself) is share the printer you installed when logged in as local administrator. Then edit that batch file with the line: net use lpt1 \\workstationname\printersharename

Hope this helps!

by dcadmin

you could try and comment out the lines of the batch file
or use the net delete command to undo the net use command

by dcassat

Go to a DOS prompt

Type net use

Check to see if lpt1 is still routed to a share other than itself.

The net use /d will discontinue that connection. Going to a DOS prompt and then typing it may restore the connection as you need it. Also right click on the printer that you are trying to print to, click on properties, details tab and spool. Try selecting print directly to printer. The setting in this box often have an impact in different situations. Good Luck.

This discussion is closed to new replies.