Default Printer won't stay put....

If anyone still cares, you can use Registry Monitor from sysinternals.com to
monitor who is changing the default printer. Monitor changes to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Device

Paul

"Paul Baker" wrote in message
...
Most likely. Epson is the manufacturer that is consistently mentioned
throughout this thread.

Paul

"Cari (MS-MVP)" wrote in message
...
Blame Epson. It's their software that is forcing the R200 to be the
default.
--
Cari (MS-MVP)
Printing & Imaging
http://www.coribright.com/windows



"ax8man" wrote in message
...
I have a local NEC Superscript 870 and a networked Epson Photo R200. I
have
experiance the same problem. It occurs frequently, but I can't identify
any
single program that causes it.

"bd" wrote:



FWIW, I have the exact same problem. An HP laserjet that i want to be
my default and an EpsonR200 that forces itself as the default with each
reboot. It does this on all 3 of my networked pcs. Real PITA.


Paul Baker wrote:
Is that reproducible?

If so, you have steps to reproduce that eliminate the possibility
that
Alun's theory explains it all. Alun's theory related to the order in
which
things start up when you first start you computer.

Paul

"Jim Wood" wrote in message
...
One additional note... I just added a printer using the Add Printer
Wizard
and when it asked if I wanted to use this printer as the default I
checked
"No". I clicked "Finish" and the printer was set to be the new
default
printer.

hmmm

~Jim


"Paul Baker" wrote in message
...
Yes, I would strongly suspect that third party software is
responsible
for the default printer changing without the user's explicit
consent.

Paul

"Jim Wood" wrote in message
...
I cannot find anything like the remote server you mentioned
c:\\server\printshare and there is no folder named printshare
anywhere on
my computer. In the past I have just selected a default printer
(in the
printers & faxs folder) and it stayed put. Like Alan I only have
the
driver Windows installed from the computer that is sharing the
printer.
Both printers are on the other computer on my home network.

~Jim


"Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote in
message
...
I am unsure how the default printer gets changed. Normally
once I set
the default (network or local) it's always the default. I also
don't
have vendor printer software installed, no status monitors, just
the
driver provided usually from the OS CD. The default only
changes when
I change it.

But others do have this problem

--
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.

"Paul Baker" wrote in message
...
Alan,

Are you referring to the default printer according to Windows
(as
shown, for example, in the Printers and Faxes folder)? I
thought that
the user can specify the default printer and that it is
supposed to
remain unchanged?

If the default printer is a network printer that is unavailable
for
some reason, shouldn't it still be the default, but simply give
an
error when an attempt is made to connect to it?

Hopefully, Terminal Services is not involved here, that
complicates
things

Paul

"Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote in
message
...
If the remote server is not turned on (\\server\printshare)
or the
workstation service starts after the spooler starts, then the
default
will be set to the first available printer. Is the Epson a
local
printer or also a connection?

Setting the default printer on the machine sharing the printer
(or
printers?) will have zero impact on the machine that has a
connection.

--
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.

"Jim Wood" wrote in message
...
Thank you for responding to my plea...

I'm using Epson Stylus Photo R200 and HP LaserJet 1020 both
with the
most recent drivers. Doesn't seem to matter whether the
printers are
on or not.

~Jim

"Chuck" wrote in message
...
If you use an application that prints, or has the Epson
selected as
it's
default, it might be the cause. It's also possible that the
Epson
driver and
monitor is the culprit.
Are both printers up and running when you have this problem?

Which HP and Epson Printer models, and are the drivers
current?

"Jim Wood" wrote in message
...
I have an Epson printer and an HP printer connected to one
computer on my
home network (Ethernet cable). The HP is set as the default
printer. From
the other computer I also set the HP as the default
printer, but
the
default
designation keeps switching to the Epson, sometimes after a
reboot,
sometimes I just notice it a while later while attempting
to
print. I have
uninstalled both printers and reinstalled them again
setting the
HP as the
default, but it will not retain this setting. This is
extremely
annoying
as
I can't just click on a print icon anymore without sending
print
jobs to
the
wrong printer.

Any suggestions? I've not been able to find anything in the
KB.

TIA,

~Jim

Here is an update and fix that I rcvd from Epson............
Start
Thank you for contacting the Epson Connection.

If you are running on a peer-to-peer setup, and find that the Epson printer
driver is setting itself as the default (when you have another printer
currently set as the default), please do the following.

On any client computer:

1. In Windows 2000, go to START, SETTING, PRINTERS.
2. In Windows XP, go to START, CONTROL PANEL, PRINTERS AND OTHER
HARDWARE/PRINTERS & FAXES.
3. Right click Epson printer, left click PRINTING PREFERENCES. Go to the
MAINTENANCE tab.
4. Click SPEED AND PROGRESS.
5. Place a check beside "DISABLE EPSON STATUS MONITOR 3". Click OK, APPLY
(in Windows 2000; APPLY will not be visible in Windows XP), OK.
6. Restart the client computer and test.

If this fails try the following:

1. Go to START, RUN, and type MSCONFIG.
2. Place a check beside SELECTIVE STARTUP. Go to the STARTUP tab.
3. Uncheck any items beginning with "Epson" or "E_s...".
4. Click APPLY, CLOSE, and restart when prompted.

If these steps do not resolve the issue it is likely that the printer driver
was installed by "mapping" from a shared drive or server location.

To correct this, do the following:

1. In PRINTERS AND FAXES, right click the Epson printer and left click DELETE.
2. Use the CD or downloaded driver on the client/workstation to reinstall
the driver. At the "CONNECT PRINTER" screen click "STOP SEARCHING."
3. Return to the PRINTERS window. Follow normal printer sharing setup steps
to add the correct shared port (ie. \\hostcomputername\printersharedname).
4. Disable the Status monitor as described in the above fixes. Restart when
complete.

Notes:

You must restart for these changes to take effect.


If you require further assistance with this particular issue, please ensure
all of our previous correspondence is contained in your reply, so we can
better track the history of this issue.

If you have a different issue, please submit another E-form via our website
(http://www.epson.com), and we will respond in a timely manner. Thank you
again for contacting Epson.



Kent C
Epson Connection

END

"Paul Baker" wrote:

Most likely. Epson is the manufacturer that is consistently mentioned
throughout this thread.

Paul

"Cari (MS-MVP)" wrote in message
...
Blame Epson. It's their software that is forcing the R200 to be the
default.
--
Cari (MS-MVP)
Printing & Imaging
http://www.coribright.com/windows



"ax8man" wrote in message
...
I have a local NEC Superscript 870 and a networked Epson Photo R200. I
have
experiance the same problem. It occurs frequently, but I can't identify
any
single program that causes it.

"bd" wrote:



FWIW, I have the exact same problem. An HP laserjet that i want to be
my default and an EpsonR200 that forces itself as the default with each
reboot. It does this on all 3 of my networked pcs. Real PITA.


Paul Baker wrote:
Is that reproducible?

If so, you have steps to reproduce that eliminate the possibility that
Alun's theory explains it all. Alun's theory related to the order in
which
things start up when you first start you computer.

Paul

"Jim Wood" wrote in message
...
One additional note... I just added a printer using the Add Printer
Wizard
and when it asked if I wanted to use this printer as the default I
checked
"No". I clicked "Finish" and the printer was set to be the new
default
printer.

hmmm

~Jim


"Paul Baker" wrote in message
...
Yes, I would strongly suspect that third party software is
responsible
for the default printer changing without the user's explicit
consent.

Paul

"Jim Wood" wrote in message
...
I cannot find anything like the remote server you mentioned
c:\\server\printshare and there is no folder named printshare
anywhere on
my computer. In the past I have just selected a default printer (in
the
printers & faxs folder) and it stayed put. Like Alan I only have
the
driver Windows installed from the computer that is sharing the
printer.
Both printers are on the other computer on my home network.

~Jim


"Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote in
message
...
I am unsure how the default printer gets changed. Normally once
I set
the default (network or local) it's always the default. I also
don't
have vendor printer software installed, no status monitors, just
the
driver provided usually from the OS CD. The default only changes
when
I change it.

But others do have this problem

--
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.

"Paul Baker" wrote in message
...
Alan,

Are you referring to the default printer according to Windows
(as
shown, for example, in the Printers and Faxes folder)? I thought
that
the user can specify the default printer and that it is supposed
to
remain unchanged?

If the default printer is a network printer that is unavailable
for
some reason, shouldn't it still be the default, but simply give
an
error when an attempt is made to connect to it?

Hopefully, Terminal Services is not involved here, that
complicates
things

Paul

"Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote in
message
...
If the remote server is not turned on (\\server\printshare) or
the
workstation service starts after the spooler starts, then the
default
will be set to the first available printer. Is the Epson a
local
printer or also a connection?

Setting the default printer on the machine sharing the printer
(or
printers?) will have zero impact on the machine that has a
connection.

--
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.

"Jim Wood" wrote in message
...
Thank you for responding to my plea...

I'm using Epson Stylus Photo R200 and HP LaserJet 1020 both
with the
most recent drivers. Doesn't seem to matter whether the
printers are
on or not.

~Jim

"Chuck" wrote in message
...
If you use an application that prints, or has the Epson
selected as
it's
default, it might be the cause. It's also possible that the
Epson
driver and
monitor is the culprit.
Are both printers up and running when you have this problem?

Which HP and Epson Printer models, and are the drivers
current?

"Jim Wood" wrote in message
...
I have an Epson printer and an HP printer connected to one
computer on my
home network (Ethernet cable). The HP is set as the default
printer. From
the other computer I also set the HP as the default printer,
but
the
default
designation keeps switching to the Epson, sometimes after a
reboot,
sometimes I just notice it a while later while attempting to
print. I have
uninstalled both printers and reinstalled them again setting
the
HP as the
default, but it will not retain this setting. This is
extremely
annoying
as
I can't just click on a print icon anymore without sending
print
jobs to
the
wrong printer.

Any suggestions? I've not been able to find anything in the
KB.

TIA,

~Jim

LOL, that's all but admitting their Epson Status Monitor deliberately
changes the default printer. Maybe they should just remove that "feature".

Paul

"ax8man" wrote in message
...
Here is an update and fix that I rcvd from Epson............
Start
Thank you for contacting the Epson Connection.

If you are running on a peer-to-peer setup, and find that the Epson
printer
driver is setting itself as the default (when you have another printer
currently set as the default), please do the following.

On any client computer:

1. In Windows 2000, go to START, SETTING, PRINTERS.
2. In Windows XP, go to START, CONTROL PANEL, PRINTERS AND OTHER
HARDWARE/PRINTERS & FAXES.
3. Right click Epson printer, left click PRINTING PREFERENCES. Go to the
MAINTENANCE tab.
4. Click SPEED AND PROGRESS.
5. Place a check beside "DISABLE EPSON STATUS MONITOR 3". Click OK, APPLY
(in Windows 2000; APPLY will not be visible in Windows XP), OK.
6. Restart the client computer and test.

If this fails try the following:

1. Go to START, RUN, and type MSCONFIG.
2. Place a check beside SELECTIVE STARTUP. Go to the STARTUP tab.
3. Uncheck any items beginning with "Epson" or "E_s...".
4. Click APPLY, CLOSE, and restart when prompted.

If these steps do not resolve the issue it is likely that the printer
driver
was installed by "mapping" from a shared drive or server location.

To correct this, do the following:

1. In PRINTERS AND FAXES, right click the Epson printer and left click
DELETE.
2. Use the CD or downloaded driver on the client/workstation to reinstall
the driver. At the "CONNECT PRINTER" screen click "STOP SEARCHING."
3. Return to the PRINTERS window. Follow normal printer sharing setup
steps
to add the correct shared port (ie. \\hostcomputername\printersharedname).
4. Disable the Status monitor as described in the above fixes. Restart
when
complete.

Notes:

You must restart for these changes to take effect.


If you require further assistance with this particular issue, please
ensure
all of our previous correspondence is contained in your reply, so we can
better track the history of this issue.

If you have a different issue, please submit another E-form via our
website
(http://www.epson.com), and we will respond in a timely manner. Thank you
again for contacting Epson.



Kent C
Epson Connection

END