printing issues

Q: We are running AD. Whenever we want to move a shared printer from one server to another server, we need to go to each client to change the settings. For example, we may want to change the settings from \\serverA\printer to \\serverB\printer. I wonder if there is any way to do \\domain\printer instead of \\server\printer just like DFS?

A: You can stick DNS names in the UNC path -- e.g. \\printer1.example.com\printer1 and then use DNS to manage the printer locations. I suppose you could do the same with NetBIOS names (WINS etc.)

A: To enable your DOS apps to print to a network printer, at a command prompt (or in a batch file), type: NET USE LPTx: \\computername\sharename /PERSISTENT:YES. Alternatively, create a local printer and redirect the port to the network server. To do that, create a local printer and in the Ports section, create a new port. Click Local, and type the server and printer name for the printer (use the \\servername\printername syntax).

Symptoms: After removing a network printer from a workstation and rebooting the workstation, I find the network printer is restored automatically.

Cause: 1) Your system may have a logon script to map the printer.
2) The printer was installed by using rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry command line.

I am trying to add NT 4 network sharing printers on XP. The problem that I
experience is that the NT server will not download the driver from the XP
machine.

A: To install win 2000/XP printer driver on a NT 4 server as sharing driver and download it to win2000/XP clients automatically, 1) install the win 2000/XP driver on a 2000/XP workstation; 2) then from local workstation, double-click the NT 4 sharing printer (if you get a message like not Digital Signature, click OK to continue; 3) select sharing; 4) click Additional driver; 5) the driver will be uploaded to the NT 4 server and will be downloaded into other workstations automatically when installing it. Re: MS q263090.

' Add a network printer if the computer is a member of the group.
' Make this printer the default.
If IsMember(objComputer, "information_system") Then
objNetwork.AddWindowsPrinterConnection "\\chicagotech\cc041hp4050"
objNetwork.SetDefaultPrinter "\\chicagotech\cc041hp4050"
End If

A: 1. You can add the printer into a user and then copy the user's profile into the default user. All new logon users will have the same printer settings.
2. If you use NT, you may use net use command to map the printer to LPT#.
3. If you have w2k/xp, you may want to use rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry command line.

If you have deleted a printing job but it won't go away, you may to
1. Stop and then restart the print spooler.
2. Delete all the files from %system%system32\spool\printers.

You may have some options to install a network printer on NT/W2K/XP for all users without repeat the same procedure one by one.
1. Create the first user and install the printer. Then copy the first user's profile to default user so that every logon user after that will have the same printer settings.
2. Use rundll32 utility. For example, the printer is located on \\server1\printername, you can create a batch file including this line, rundll32 printui.dll PrintUIEntry /ga /n \\server1\printername.
3. For NT, you can install the printer on LPT1 and map the network printer to the LPT1.

You can use the command prompt and the DIR command. To save the file list of windows, type dir c:\windows > c:\filelist.doc. To print, type dir c:\windows > lpt1 or dir c:\windows > prn.

How to fix a print problem without rebooting the server

Q: For some reason the printer spool gets clogged up and I have to reboot the server to be able to print. Even if I try and delete the files they will go clear until I reboot. Any Ideas?

A: Next time when the printer has a problem to print, try to delete the job first. If, for some reasons, you can't delete it, you can go to Administrative Tools>services to stop and restart the printer spool without rebooting the server.

I can't add a new driver in a networking printer

If you are running win9x computer, normally you can change the networking printer settings and add a new driver on it. For w2k/xp, however, the regular users may not be able to do these any more because the settings and loading drivers are controlled by w2k server where the printer is located.

Problem to print PDF to a HP printer

Resolution: 1) Upgrade printer driver; 2) download HP LaserJet Enhanced driver; 3) download and install HP Enhanced driver.

Some print features are not available

Symptoms: After installed networking HP Color printer 1220C with the driver coming from w2k server, 1) MS Word doesn't have11x17 paper option; 2) ArcMap loses some print features.

Resolutions: Install the driver from HP instead of using w2k existing driver.

Q: Why can't print a DOS program even it is pointed to LPT1

A: 1) Printing from MS-DOS-based programs does not work if the printer is a Postscript Printer.
2) If you use Lexmark and Xerox, in the Advanced settings of the Printer Properties, change the Print Processor from RAW to "Text Only".