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shared printers

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by sistermaryg

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My clents suddenly lost access to netwrok printers. I connected the printers to client computers and they worked but only from that computer. Then I reconfigured the whole lab and connected the printers back to the server. Now the server prints (theprinter is connected to the server)but the clients still won't print. I want to make sure I have print sharing on. The problem could be a88 security block either on this server or the main server of the network.

13 replies

by maxwell edison

Enabling File and Print Sharing:

Windows 95/98/ME Setup:
Go to Start -> Settings -> Control Panel.

Double-click on Network.

Click on the File and Print Sharing button* under the configuration tab.

Check the box "I want to be able togive others access to my files" to share files.

Check the box "I want to be able to give others access to my printer" to share your printer.

Click on the Identification tab.

Type in a unique name for your computer name.

You will want to pick one that is not already in use on the network.

Type in your workgroup.

Click OK to close the Network control panel.

Note: If the File and Print Sharing button is grayed out, you must install Client for Microsoft Networks. Click Add, double-click Client, highlight Microsoft in the left window and Client for Microsoft Networks in the right window. Click OK.

Windows NT Setup:

Go to Start -> Settings -> Control Panel.
Double-click Services.

Scroll down to Server and make sure the Status is Started and Startup is Automatic.

If it is not, highlight Server, and click Start.

Then click Startup and set to Automatic. Click OK.

Click Close.

If, for some reason, sharing is not available or you are unable to start the Server service, install the latest Windows NT Service Pack from Microsoft.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/servicepacks/

(REMOVE SPACES from the pasted URL.)

Windows 2000 Setup:

Go to Start -> Settings -> Network and Dial-Up connections.

Double click the icon for Local Area Connection.
Click Properties.

Click Install and double-click Service.

Click File and Print Sharing for Microsoft Networks and click OK.

Good luck,

Maxwell

by sistermaryg

Thanks. I tried that but File and Print Sharing was already checked. Maybe I should uninstall, reinstall it?

by curious_george

You have not mentioned your domain structure nor OS type, so it is possible that another domain level admin has made a modification that is causing this problem. But I will continue assuming this is not the case.

Print sharing is largely two concerns.

#1 Sharing a functional printer, making sure the appropriate drivers are avialable to clients.

It sounds like you have already reviewed the function of the printer on the local server, so have you verified that it has been configured for sharing? Sounds like the clients should already have appropriate drivers since they were already using these devices, so that is probably not the problem.

#2 Authenticating users trying to send print jobs.

Permissions need to be in place allowing all the users to have proper access to the print share itself. Double-check this under the security tab for each print queue.

Additionally, it is possible that the print server is not authenticating users. This could be because the print serverhas lost communications with the domain controllers, or its computer account in the domain has been corrupted (or removed), or all network communications have been lost(i.e. a bad NIC, ethernet cable, network port, etc.). Also make sure the netlogonservice and server service are running on the print server, without them running you would experience these failures.

I think you get the idea here, you need to narrow the possibilities of the problem through logical elimination.

Good luck

by sistermaryg

you guys are so awesome It's a Windows 2000 network running windows 2000 server on the server. Maybe the drivers expired - that would account for the sudden loss. If file and print sharing is checked, then it must be sharing, right? I tried checking the permissions and I can't even open properties on the client computers. I gave everyone full permisssions from the server. i think the print server is authenticating users, because they can log in. I did see a netlogin error on the other server.

by curious_george

Are you a win9x user trying to run a W2K server?

Yes file and print sharing must be turned on, but you also NEED to share the printers from the printers dialog box. If there is not a little blue hand under the icon for each printer then it is not shared properly.

By default when you do this it sets permissions to EVERYONE (anon included) can print. This may or may not be tight enough security for you. You'll need to decide.

If you do not understand how to share out a printer properly you should either get your company to invest into some training for you or you should try another field.

by shanghai sam

No, I'm not a win9x user. The printers have little blue hands. We have paid thousands of dollars on technicians who have not been able to fix this. The main server is according to one technician "Fort Knox". The lab is operating better sinceI reconfigured it to no longer have a connection with that main server. I plugged it in directly to the router. And I am studying for my MCSE and I have had success creating a working network for a high school. Not bad for a beginner.

by gperrie

Can the users connect to any other shares on the server? If so then authentication is not the problem.

Can you remove the connection from the clients then reconnect? Does this work?

When the lab was reconfigured, what was changed? Any namesof servers or just layout?

Gavin

by shanghai sam

Yes, users are able to connect to their files and settings from the lab server. I removed the connection from the clients and reconnected - didn't work. The reconfiguration consisted of plugging this lab directly into the DSL router insteadof going through the main server.

by gigelul

If you reinstall the OS on server(standallone or PDC server?) you must recreate the users accounts for your domain(if you don't use a BDC!)

by sistermaryg

Is it possible that the drivers for the printers are not connecting to the users? HEY!!! I FIXED IT!!! I should get the 885 points. Thanks, though, everybody. I rebooted everything, got new drivers, etc, etc. God bless you!!!

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