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Printers Disappear from Add Printer in C

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by techytype 2 views

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A perplexing problem I have been experiencing on a bunch of Windows 2000 Professional systems. The printers disappear from within the printer folder. The printers are still available to send documents to but making changes to properties is extremely difficult. Checked out the Microsoft Knowledgebase and the solution to restore the NTPRINT file doesn't solve this one. I'm losing my marbles trying to figure this one out (of course that is status quo). Help!

The only way I have found to modify the printers properties is to bring the printer offline then send something to it. I can then rightl click on the printer on the taskbar, open active printers and make changes to my hearts content. But the printer is still missing in action from the printers folder. Any "new" printers I install become the default printer and they too never show up in the printers folder. Ideas and suggestions gratefully accepted!

18 replies

by conrad

We had many problems with Windows 2000 Pro printing to printers attached to our Netware 4.11 network. It was impossible to browse the Netware tree when installing a printer using the add printer wizard, and when looking at properties on an installedprinter, explorer would restart. Netware's solution was to upgrade to the newest intranetware client, which fixed the problem. Also, if you haven't already, you will want to install SP1 for Windows 2000. Hope this helps!

by techytype

Being as there is not any Netware connectivity required or installed this doesn't help. Service Pack 1 for Windows 2000 has been installed and this did not solve the problem. Problem also exists on a system with Windows 2000 Advanced Server. It is important to note that this problem exists on a number of Windows 2000 computers that are NOT on the same network, i.e. different sites. Have also discovered that printing in some programs/utilities i.e. NOTEPAD, MSWORKS generates a "out of memory" error.

by lmayeda

On of my users (Win98) just started to have this same symptom, she would print to one or more of the network printers then a couple of times during the day all of the printers in the printer folder would disappear. Re-booting recovers the printers and the print jobs. I can ping the IP addresses of the network printers that have 'disappeared'. The only software change was the installation of the latest McAfee DAT files which caused the system to freeze. That was resolved with the installation of a VirusScan program upgrade as well as the newest DAT file.

by techytype

Except rebooting does not recover the printers in my cases. I have since discovered that reinstalling Windows 2000 on top of itself magically causes the printers to reappear. Reinstallation uses TCP/IP though. Beginning to suspect that the problem is tied into network protocol configuration, if you do not use TCP/IP then the "missing" printers problem occurs. Still haven't been able to find an explanation that allows me to fix this problem.

by michael roark - ccna/da mcp 3csa

are these printers local printers or network printers, or on a print server?
Yes, this does have a lot to do with it...
which type of printers are you using?
are they HP by any chance? HP has a stupid program that annoys the hell out of me but itworks, it runs in the back, on the taskbar called hpjetdiscovery, it's coupled in with the newest Jet direct programs.
It's annoying because it kicks on every five minutes for about 3 seconds and slows down the machine.
but you don't have to reboot to see your printers again. the lesser of two evils, what a choice...
now if they'll only get 802.1q on their jetdirect cards,,
hope this helps..
Good Luck,

by techytype

Yes, one is an HP LaserJet 4+ but none are inkjets using stupid background software, Other printers include Okipage 20DX, Tektronix 740, HP Laserjets II & III, LaserJet 5, and a number of different dot matrix printers. Have found applying SP2 usually recovers the printers listing in the printers folder BUT not always permanently. They disappear again sometimes. On the many systems which have this problem ALL computers affected are on a network but not all the printers are network, some are local. The only way to guarantee this problem doen't pop up is to make sure the computer is not ever part of a network (except for internet access). Important to remember that printing works in most applications for computers that exhibit this problem of invisible printers except in NOTEPAD, Canadian version of Quicktax and some functions inside Microsoft Works 2000.

by techytype

Because I still haven't found a permanent WORKING solution to this problem. If you have an idea then please suggest it. Maybe your idea of technical support is to ignore problems you can't solve, I however continue to search (although at a reducedlevel of effort) for a solution until a problem is solved or is no longer relevant. Others have made suggestions, they haven't helped but they were at least trying to help. That is the point.

by tjc

run regscan to make sure that the registry isn't damaged and scandisk the drives. Also windows can only handle reliablely 10 printers any more it can go flaky.

by techytype

Registry is not corrupted. Scandisk? The drives are NTFS, they are functioning correctly and are regularly schecked for errors. None of the affected systems has more than 5 printers installed. Most affected systems have only one or two printers installed. Thank you for your reply but unfortunately it hasn't helped.

by techytype

Please expand, what is meant by "batching your OS"? Dumping W2K is not an option. It is still better than any 9x versions.

by maxwell edison

Greetings,

I would guess that the Windows 2000 print spooler failed to delete a spooled file from the previous print job, thereby causing the printer to disappear from the printer folder. When a printer is busy ?spooling? data, the icon temporarily disappears, reappearing only after the spooling process.

If the print spooler does not delete a finished spool file, it is possible that some program or users has set the read-only attribute on the spool file, at:

%Systemroot%\System32\Spool\Printers.

To prevent this behavior from occurring, do not change (or stop whatever may be changing it) the attributes of a spool file while it is in the:

%Systemroot%\System32\Spool\Printers folder.

To resolve this problem, right-click the spool file in Windows Explorer and press Properties. Clear the read-only attribute and press OK.

Good luck,

Maxwell

by techytype

Tried your suggestion, unfortunately did not solve the problem. Thanks for the idea though. I'm going to close this issue, haven't been able to find any solution in well over a year. It can die a slimy MS death.

by techytype

Tried your suggestion, unfortunately did not solve the problem. Thanks for the idea though. I'm going to close this issue, haven't been able to find any solution in well over a year. It can die a slimy MS death.

by bhrdwh

Hi, Does it happen with all PCs ?? If yes, the problem lies with your Print Server. Remove all drivers & recreate the Print Server again. Also update drivers with latest release.
Akash

by techytype

No, this problem does not happen with all systems using Windows 2000. I'm going to close this issue, haven't been able to find any solution in well over a year. It can die a slimy MS death.

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