I have a network – client/server – running NT 4.0 with SP5 on server and NT with SP4 on workstations; about 25. The server is the PDC and also is running SQl as well as being the file and print server. There are 4 printers and a copier/printer on the network; 3 HP’s, 1 Lexmark color printer and 1 Toshiba DP copier/printer with an embedded printer board.
From time to time an event 2004 will show up in the Event Log, mostly from the HP’s, but when the error occurs the print job will eventuallyprint. On the Toshiba copier/printer, when printing to it, and it generates an event 2004, the whole print system freezes and will stay that way until the spooler is restarted. In addition, an event 2004 from any of the printers will cause all of the printers to disappear from the printers box, again, until the spooler is restarted.
All of the printers, including the copier/printer can be printed to using LPR directly or by using a P2P utility, in both cases bypassing the server. When bypassing the server there are no problems.
By the way, the event 2004 says that “the printer has rejected the print request”.
I suspect that maybe something as simple as adding SP6a might solve the problem, but I really would like to know what exactly is causing the problem. What do you think?