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Print Queue/Print Server

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by jbellusci 1 view

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I am having a problem with one of the print queues on my NT Server 4.0 Print Server. It's for an HP 8000N Printer. It seems every morning, the queue gets backed up by the first person who prints a job to this printer. The job will sit in the queue with a status of either printing (but it doesn't actually print) error, or unavailable. I can fix it by stoping and then restarting the spooler service on my Print Server then the "held" documents print and it's OK normally until the next morning. Sometimes the problem occurs during the day. It seems to happen when the printer has a long gap between uses. I've turned off the PowerSave option on the printer thinking that was the problem, but that didn't resolve it. There doesn't seem to bea connectivity problem at that time as I am able to PING the IP address of the printer.

thanks in advance for any help on this issue.

Jeremy
Network Administrator

16 replies

by nert

Do you have a nightly backup running that could be casuing a conflict with the \winnt\system32\spooler directory?

by jbellusci

From jbellusci@medexassist.com on 02/20/01 11:45 AM EST: I do have a nightly backup running, but it's been that way for over a year and the printer problem is more recent.

by jbellusci

I do have a nightly backup running, but it's been that way for over a year and the printer problem is more recent.

by jeff williams

Going to need some more info. What print device is being used? Internal/External JetDirect? Some other device? Is there a commonality in the types of jobs that cause it to hang? How is the print device configured?

by jbellusci

Jeff,

Thanks for your response. Here is some additional information. JetDirect Port. Internal card on the printer. No commonality, anything from Word Documents to Screen Prints from our AS/400.

Configured to print using a JetDirect Port using TCP/IP.

by jeff williams

OK. There is a PowerSave Timeout on the JetDirect itself. Is this on or off? It would also be helpful to make sure you're using the latest firmware on the JD. Are you getting any errors in the Event Viewer?

by jbellusci

The PowerSave is off. I have the latest version of JetAdmin Software, but that's all I can say for sure.

No errors in event viewer.

by timber

Just out of curiosity is this the only printer on this server? I would start with the obvious and delete the printer make sure you tell it to delete all uneeded files when prompted. Reboot the server and reinstall the Printer. I would also verifythat the server has a static IP instead of DHCP I've seen them loose connection if the printer is set up for DHCP. The server has no idea then where the printer is....

Good Luck.

by jbellusci

First thing I did, was delete and reinstall the printer driver. It is not the only printer on this server there are many others.

I will probably try deleting and reinstalling this driver again though.

by mjervis

I am following the discussion and noticed you have checked all the nessesary items. Although I had the same problem with a HP4si on an Intel Pro server. My problem was resolved by something out of the ordinary. I checked all my network cabling (Cat 5) and found I was getting good pings but depending on how the wire was moved it would time out during the night and turn on the powersave option. My fix was simply putting a new end on my Cat 5 wiring. Depending on the age of the wiring and how muchit gets moved around the end may not be making the right connection you need anymore.

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