Can't print without restarting Print Spooler Service

This is beyond weird.

About 10 weeks ago my workstation quit being able to print. I have 3 HP
Network printers on a small domain based network with a Windows 2003 server.
I believe this to have started after installing a LaserJet 5100dtn driver,
but HP thinks that is just a coincidence at this point. I have tried a
zillion things with HP tech support to no effect.

Here's the symptoms:

If I reboot I can print for maybe 20 minutes. then i can't.

The usual remedy is to restart the "Print Spooler" service. then in a
minute or two it will print. But for only another 20-30 minutes or so.

If I try to print and can't, rebooting will cause everything to print all at
once as soon as i log back on to the network. Then it works again for
another 20-30 minutes.

This is the only workstation on the network that has that problem. I am
running XP pro SP2 on it with all of the latest updates, patches, fixes, etc.
I have checked and rechecked the updates.

The print jobs have been passed on to the printer's spooler in some cases
and the Windows print queue is empty and i still have to restart the Print
Spooler Service.

Some print jobs are stuck in the Window's Print Queue (Start, Printers and
faxes) and restarting the print job from that location has no effect.

All three printers work from other workstations and from the Windows 2003
server. The printers are true network enabled printers and have reserved IP
addresses reserved by the server's DHCP server. I can ping the printers just
fine from the workstation.

My Windows firewall is turned off.

I replaced all my network cables and bought a brand new 1000BaseT Switch and
everything reports to be working at full 1 Gbit speeds. I upgraded the NIC
drivers at the workstation and the file server and everything reports no
errors and passes all tests. Everything can ping everything else so i don't
believe its the network timing out or something odd like that.

No, i didn't try a system restore, yet as that would cost me days of
reloading important software, updates, patches, registration,
authorizations,etc.

I really hitting the wall on this one and I'm desparate for any help!

Thanks in advance.

So you are printing directly to the printers not to a shared printer on the
Win2k3 server?

I suggest deleting all printers and drivers from the machine which is
exhibiting the problems.

Follow Bruce Sanderson's directions to remove the drivers from the system
after deleting the printers.

http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm


Also what type of network print ports are you using?
--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base he
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

"Devonshire" wrote in message
...
This is beyond weird.

About 10 weeks ago my workstation quit being able to print. I have 3 HP
Network printers on a small domain based network with a Windows 2003
server.
I believe this to have started after installing a LaserJet 5100dtn driver,
but HP thinks that is just a coincidence at this point. I have tried a
zillion things with HP tech support to no effect.

Here's the symptoms:

If I reboot I can print for maybe 20 minutes. then i can't.

The usual remedy is to restart the "Print Spooler" service. then in a
minute or two it will print. But for only another 20-30 minutes or so.

If I try to print and can't, rebooting will cause everything to print all
at
once as soon as i log back on to the network. Then it works again for
another 20-30 minutes.

This is the only workstation on the network that has that problem. I am
running XP pro SP2 on it with all of the latest updates, patches, fixes,
etc.
I have checked and rechecked the updates.

The print jobs have been passed on to the printer's spooler in some cases
and the Windows print queue is empty and i still have to restart the Print
Spooler Service.

Some print jobs are stuck in the Window's Print Queue (Start, Printers and
faxes) and restarting the print job from that location has no effect.

All three printers work from other workstations and from the Windows 2003
server. The printers are true network enabled printers and have reserved
IP
addresses reserved by the server's DHCP server. I can ping the printers
just
fine from the workstation.

My Windows firewall is turned off.

I replaced all my network cables and bought a brand new 1000BaseT Switch
and
everything reports to be working at full 1 Gbit speeds. I upgraded the
NIC
drivers at the workstation and the file server and everything reports no
errors and passes all tests. Everything can ping everything else so i
don't
believe its the network timing out or something odd like that.

No, i didn't try a system restore, yet as that would cost me days of
reloading important software, updates, patches, registration,
authorizations,etc.

I really hitting the wall on this one and I'm desparate for any help!

Thanks in advance.

"Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:

So you are printing directly to the printers not to a shared printer on the
Win2k3 server?

The 3 printers are standalone network devices and are not attached to the
file server directly. The 3 printers are connected with ethernet cables to my
hub/switch on the network. The file server does not act as a print server
and is not configured to be a print server.

I suggest deleting all printers and drivers from the machine which is
exhibiting the problems.

Follow Bruce Sanderson's directions to remove the drivers from the system
after deleting the printers.

http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm

The Print spooler must be running in some form because the "Printers and
Faxes" list contains 15 printers (including Acrobat and others that are not
hardware printers).

I can't delete the printers, I get a message thats says "Printers cannot be
removed. Either the printer name has been ttyped incorectly, or the
specified printer has lost its connection to the server...."

Under Server Properties, drivers, it won't let me delete some of the drivers
indicating that the specifid printer driver is currently in use"

Also what type of network print ports are you using?

"HP Standard TCP/IP Port"

I will try the more drastic removal tool in the link to remove the drivers
and report back.


--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base he
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

"Devonshire" wrote in message
...
This is beyond weird.

About 10 weeks ago my workstation quit being able to print. I have 3 HP
Network printers on a small domain based network with a Windows 2003
server.
I believe this to have started after installing a LaserJet 5100dtn driver,
but HP thinks that is just a coincidence at this point. I have tried a
zillion things with HP tech support to no effect.

Here's the symptoms:

If I reboot I can print for maybe 20 minutes. then i can't.

The usual remedy is to restart the "Print Spooler" service. then in a
minute or two it will print. But for only another 20-30 minutes or so.

If I try to print and can't, rebooting will cause everything to print all
at
once as soon as i log back on to the network. Then it works again for
another 20-30 minutes.

This is the only workstation on the network that has that problem. I am
running XP pro SP2 on it with all of the latest updates, patches, fixes,
etc.
I have checked and rechecked the updates.

The print jobs have been passed on to the printer's spooler in some cases
and the Windows print queue is empty and i still have to restart the Print
Spooler Service.

Some print jobs are stuck in the Window's Print Queue (Start, Printers and
faxes) and restarting the print job from that location has no effect.

All three printers work from other workstations and from the Windows 2003
server. The printers are true network enabled printers and have reserved
IP
addresses reserved by the server's DHCP server. I can ping the printers
just
fine from the workstation.

My Windows firewall is turned off.

I replaced all my network cables and bought a brand new 1000BaseT Switch
and
everything reports to be working at full 1 Gbit speeds. I upgraded the
NIC
drivers at the workstation and the file server and everything reports no
errors and passes all tests. Everything can ping everything else so i
don't
believe its the network timing out or something odd like that.

No, i didn't try a system restore, yet as that would cost me days of
reloading important software, updates, patches, registration,
authorizations,etc.

I really hitting the wall on this one and I'm desparate for any help!

Thanks in advance.

I'd first start by using the Standard TCP/IP port that ships with the
product.

Most likely there is some sort of version conflict with the 3 drivers on the
one system.

Once you get the drivers removed download the latest from HP and start over.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base he
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

"Devonshire" wrote in message
...


"Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:

So you are printing directly to the printers not to a shared printer on
the
Win2k3 server?

The 3 printers are standalone network devices and are not attached to the
file server directly. The 3 printers are connected with ethernet cables to
my
hub/switch on the network. The file server does not act as a print
server
and is not configured to be a print server.

I suggest deleting all printers and drivers from the machine which is
exhibiting the problems.

Follow Bruce Sanderson's directions to remove the drivers from the system
after deleting the printers.

http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm

The Print spooler must be running in some form because the "Printers and
Faxes" list contains 15 printers (including Acrobat and others that are
not
hardware printers).

I can't delete the printers, I get a message thats says "Printers cannot
be
removed. Either the printer name has been ttyped incorectly, or the
specified printer has lost its connection to the server...."

Under Server Properties, drivers, it won't let me delete some of the
drivers
indicating that the specifid printer driver is currently in use"

Also what type of network print ports are you using?

"HP Standard TCP/IP Port"

I will try the more drastic removal tool in the link to remove the drivers
and report back.


--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base he
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.

"Devonshire" wrote in message
...
This is beyond weird.

About 10 weeks ago my workstation quit being able to print. I have 3
HP
Network printers on a small domain based network with a Windows 2003
server.
I believe this to have started after installing a LaserJet 5100dtn
driver,
but HP thinks that is just a coincidence at this point. I have tried a
zillion things with HP tech support to no effect.

Here's the symptoms:

If I reboot I can print for maybe 20 minutes. then i can't.

The usual remedy is to restart the "Print Spooler" service. then in a
minute or two it will print. But for only another 20-30 minutes or so.

If I try to print and can't, rebooting will cause everything to print
all
at
once as soon as i log back on to the network. Then it works again for
another 20-30 minutes.

This is the only workstation on the network that has that problem. I
am
running XP pro SP2 on it with all of the latest updates, patches,
fixes,
etc.
I have checked and rechecked the updates.

The print jobs have been passed on to the printer's spooler in some
cases
and the Windows print queue is empty and i still have to restart the
Print
Spooler Service.

Some print jobs are stuck in the Window's Print Queue (Start, Printers
and
faxes) and restarting the print job from that location has no effect.

All three printers work from other workstations and from the Windows
2003
server. The printers are true network enabled printers and have
reserved
IP
addresses reserved by the server's DHCP server. I can ping the
printers
just
fine from the workstation.

My Windows firewall is turned off.

I replaced all my network cables and bought a brand new 1000BaseT
Switch
and
everything reports to be working at full 1 Gbit speeds. I upgraded the
NIC
drivers at the workstation and the file server and everything reports
no
errors and passes all tests. Everything can ping everything else so i
don't
believe its the network timing out or something odd like that.

No, i didn't try a system restore, yet as that would cost me days of
reloading important software, updates, patches, registration,
authorizations,etc.

I really hitting the wall on this one and I'm desparate for any help!

Thanks in advance.

I'd first start by using the Standard TCP/IP port that ships with the
product.

Most likely there is some sort of version conflict with the 3 drivers on the
one system.

Once you get the drivers removed download the latest from HP and start over.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base he
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

"Devonshire" wrote in message
...


"Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:

So you are printing directly to the printers not to a shared printer on
the
Win2k3 server?

The 3 printers are standalone network devices and are not attached to the
file server directly. The 3 printers are connected with ethernet cables to
my
hub/switch on the network. The file server does not act as a print
server
and is not configured to be a print server.

I suggest deleting all printers and drivers from the machine which is
exhibiting the problems.

Follow Bruce Sanderson's directions to remove the drivers from the system
after deleting the printers.

http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm

The Print spooler must be running in some form because the "Printers and
Faxes" list contains 15 printers (including Acrobat and others that are
not
hardware printers).

I can't delete the printers, I get a message thats says "Printers cannot
be
removed. Either the printer name has been ttyped incorectly, or the
specified printer has lost its connection to the server...."

Under Server Properties, drivers, it won't let me delete some of the
drivers
indicating that the specifid printer driver is currently in use"

Also what type of network print ports are you using?

"HP Standard TCP/IP Port"

I will try the more drastic removal tool in the link to remove the drivers
and report back.


--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base he
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.

"Devonshire" wrote in message
...
This is beyond weird.

About 10 weeks ago my workstation quit being able to print. I have 3
HP
Network printers on a small domain based network with a Windows 2003
server.
I believe this to have started after installing a LaserJet 5100dtn
driver,
but HP thinks that is just a coincidence at this point. I have tried a
zillion things with HP tech support to no effect.

Here's the symptoms:

If I reboot I can print for maybe 20 minutes. then i can't.

The usual remedy is to restart the "Print Spooler" service. then in a
minute or two it will print. But for only another 20-30 minutes or so.

If I try to print and can't, rebooting will cause everything to print
all
at
once as soon as i log back on to the network. Then it works again for
another 20-30 minutes.

This is the only workstation on the network that has that problem. I
am
running XP pro SP2 on it with all of the latest updates, patches,
fixes,
etc.
I have checked and rechecked the updates.

The print jobs have been passed on to the printer's spooler in some
cases
and the Windows print queue is empty and i still have to restart the
Print
Spooler Service.

Some print jobs are stuck in the Window's Print Queue (Start, Printers
and
faxes) and restarting the print job from that location has no effect.

All three printers work from other workstations and from the Windows
2003
server. The printers are true network enabled printers and have
reserved
IP
addresses reserved by the server's DHCP server. I can ping the
printers
just
fine from the workstation.

My Windows firewall is turned off.

I replaced all my network cables and bought a brand new 1000BaseT
Switch
and
everything reports to be working at full 1 Gbit speeds. I upgraded the
NIC
drivers at the workstation and the file server and everything reports
no
errors and passes all tests. Everything can ping everything else so i
don't
believe its the network timing out or something odd like that.

No, i didn't try a system restore, yet as that would cost me days of
reloading important software, updates, patches, registration,
authorizations,etc.

I really hitting the wall on this one and I'm desparate for any help!

Thanks in advance.

I cleaned out ALL printer drivers with the utility. I verified the latest
drivers from HP and downloaded and installed those. (The HP OfficeJet 7410
was 376 Mb....). I then sequentially reloaded the 3 HP drivers one at a time,
rebooting between each. I then unloaded and reloaded Adobe Acrobat Pro to
the CS3 Suite and Nuance's Paperport v11 (they have a proprietary PDF
driver). It appears that solved the mysterious and vexing inability to print
problem (8 hours of reloading). Thank you for the brialliant help!

Unfortunately now i have another equally vexing problem. As soon as i
unloaded the Adobe Acrobat and reloaded, I started getting the "Generic Host
Process for Win32 Services" error at logon and for maybe 2 instances after
trying to close it. After loading the Paperport 11, now i get a persistent
"Generic Host Process for Win32 Services" error that will not go away (I
close it, it sends an error reprort to Microsoft, it reopens, I close it,
etc. endlessly.....).

Now how do I solve the "Generic Host Process for Win32 Services" error
problem?

"Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:

I'd first start by using the Standard TCP/IP port that ships with the
product.

Most likely there is some sort of version conflict with the 3 drivers on the
one system.

Once you get the drivers removed download the latest from HP and start over.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base he
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

"Devonshire" wrote in message
...


"Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:

So you are printing directly to the printers not to a shared printer on
the
Win2k3 server?

The 3 printers are standalone network devices and are not attached to the
file server directly. The 3 printers are connected with ethernet cables to
my
hub/switch on the network. The file server does not act as a print
server
and is not configured to be a print server.

I suggest deleting all printers and drivers from the machine which is
exhibiting the problems.

Follow Bruce Sanderson's directions to remove the drivers from the system
after deleting the printers.

http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm

The Print spooler must be running in some form because the "Printers and
Faxes" list contains 15 printers (including Acrobat and others that are
not
hardware printers).

I can't delete the printers, I get a message thats says "Printers cannot
be
removed. Either the printer name has been ttyped incorectly, or the
specified printer has lost its connection to the server...."

Under Server Properties, drivers, it won't let me delete some of the
drivers
indicating that the specifid printer driver is currently in use"

Also what type of network print ports are you using?

"HP Standard TCP/IP Port"

I will try the more drastic removal tool in the link to remove the drivers
and report back.


--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base he
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.

"Devonshire" wrote in message
...
This is beyond weird.

About 10 weeks ago my workstation quit being able to print. I have 3
HP
Network printers on a small domain based network with a Windows 2003
server.
I believe this to have started after installing a LaserJet 5100dtn
driver,
but HP thinks that is just a coincidence at this point. I have tried a
zillion things with HP tech support to no effect.

Here's the symptoms:

If I reboot I can print for maybe 20 minutes. then i can't.

The usual remedy is to restart the "Print Spooler" service. then in a
minute or two it will print. But for only another 20-30 minutes or so.

If I try to print and can't, rebooting will cause everything to print
all
at
once as soon as i log back on to the network. Then it works again for
another 20-30 minutes.

This is the only workstation on the network that has that problem. I
am
running XP pro SP2 on it with all of the latest updates, patches,
fixes,
etc.
I have checked and rechecked the updates.

The print jobs have been passed on to the printer's spooler in some
cases
and the Windows print queue is empty and i still have to restart the
Print
Spooler Service.

Some print jobs are stuck in the Window's Print Queue (Start, Printers
and
faxes) and restarting the print job from that location has no effect.

All three printers work from other workstations and from the Windows
2003
server. The printers are true network enabled printers and have
reserved
IP
addresses reserved by the server's DHCP server. I can ping the
printers
just
fine from the workstation.

My Windows firewall is turned off.

I replaced all my network cables and bought a brand new 1000BaseT
Switch
and
everything reports to be working at full 1 Gbit speeds. I upgraded the
NIC
drivers at the workstation and the file server and everything reports
no
errors and passes all tests. Everything can ping everything else so i
don't
believe its the network timing out or something odd like that.

No, i didn't try a system restore, yet as that would cost me days of
reloading important software, updates, patches, registration,
authorizations,etc.

I really hitting the wall on this one and I'm desparate for any help!

Thanks in advance.

SOLUTION: Disable Bi-directional in the printer's properties (if it's on
a Print Server, you have to do this on print queue's printer
properties).

I thought maybe the printer was sending or expecting some info to or
from the queue, so I thought of Bi-Directional printing. I remembered
it from back in the mid-90s doing tech support with consumer printers,
and figured it couldn't hurt to try it on enterprise network printing.

This has happened to us a few times with random and different HP
models.

This has fixed it every time.

Good luck!

-Mike


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darkmallard
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Superb Mike. Works for me!


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