Cannot print to a network printer

Homeuser · Jul 16, 2009

Ok, I'm stummped! I have a Dell A960 Printer hooked up to my Desktop (vista Ultimate x64)(wired) via USB. I also have an HP Desktop (XP-SP3) hooked up to my network (wired) and a HP Laptop (XP-SP3)(Wireless) also hooked up to my network. I can see all on all computers. I also can print from my vista desktop to my Dell, as well as print from the HP desktop to the Dell. However, I can't print from my wireless laptop at all..I keep getting "Deleting file" in printer status...I have ran the troubleshooter and no help...I have no firewalls on except for windows..I have just done a clean install of the OS on both my desktop and laptop...any ideas?

recap:

Desktop1:Vista Ultimate x64 (Main Computer-always on)
Desktop2:XP SP3 (on when needed)
Laptop: XP SP3 (on when needed)
Printer: Dell A-960 (always on)

Desktop 1, 2 and Laptop can all network no problems
Desktop 2 can print to Desktop 1 and vice a versa (as Desktop 2 has it's own printer-I did this for troubleshooting purposes...
laptop cannot print to Desktop 1 but I can print to Desktop 2

Thanks for your help in advance!!

Skyzoomer · Jul 17, 2009

Homeuser said:
However, I can't print from my wireless laptop at all..I keep getting "Deleting file" in printer status...I have ran the troubleshooter and no help...I have no firewalls on except for windows..I have just done a clean install of the OS on both my desktop and laptop...any ideas?

laptop cannot print to Desktop 1 but I can print to Desktop 2

Try this:

- In Desktop-1, get the network name and printer name.
- On your laptop, install the driver for the printer on desktop-1. Assuming it is a USB connected printer, you will probably need to connect it to your laptop temporarily to do this.
- Control Panel > Printer and Faxes > right click the icon for the printer > Properties.
- In the properties window click Ports > Add Port.
- In the Printer Ports window click Local Port.
- In the Port Name window enter \\Desktop-1-Name\Printer-name and click OK. These are the names you got in the first step.
- Port Name window closes. Close the Printer Ports window.
- In the properties window for the printer > Ports tab, scroll down to the bottom and you should see an entry like \\Desktop-1-Name\Printer-name Local Port". Check the box for that line. This is very important.
- Do a test print from Notepad. There should be an entry for the printer on Desktop-1 but it will not say "Local Port". Hopefully you will now be able to print to that printer.

Good Luck,
Sky

Homeuser · Jul 18, 2009

Nope..This didn't work...I get a and error from notepad "Notepad.exe-Entry point not found. The procedure entry point ??1CNavigator@@QAE@XZ could not be located in the dynamic link library dlbfutl.dll" . and also a "communication not available" Message....I'm gonna try this again, but first I am going to uninstall what I have on here now,and start all over again...I'll post my findings....

Skyzoomer · Jul 18, 2009

Homeuser said:
Nope..This didn't work...I get a and error from notepad "Notepad.exe-Entry point not found. The procedure entry point ??1CNavigator@@QAE@XZ could not be located in the dynamic link library dlbfutl.dll" . and also a "communication not available" Message....I'm gonna try this again, but first I am going to uninstall what I have on here now,and start all over again...I'll post my findings....

Sorry to hear it didn't work. When I wasn't able to print from my Vista laptop to my two USB printers on my WinXP Pro desktop, that procedure worked for both printers. Will keep lurking to hear what your final resolution is, if any.

Sky

Homeuser · Jul 18, 2009

First off...Awesome step by step process you gave me...Thanks!

- In the properties window for the printer > Ports tab, scroll down to the bottom and you should see an entry like \\Desktop-1-Name\Printer-name Local Port". Check the box for that line. This is very important.
Did this....it was set as by default.

- Do a test print from Notepad. There should be an entry for the printer on Desktop-1 but it will not say "Local Port". Hopefully you will now be able to print to that printer.
I tried this, and it pauses for a few seconds...now it say's "Communication not Available"...it's almost as if, the network printer is stuck on a USB printer connection...or even a fire wall blocking it..but I can't find one..and I don't have any installed as of yet...

Skyzoomer · Jul 19, 2009

Homeuser said:
First off...Awesome step by step process you gave me...Thanks!

You're welcome but sorry it's not working.

- In the properties window for the printer > Ports tab, scroll down to the bottom and you should see an entry like \\Desktop-1-Name\Printer-name Local Port". Check the box for that line. This is very important.

Did this....it was set as by default.

Hmmm, if I recall correctly mine were not checked by default. Are you sure you're looking at the right entry? There are two entries for "each" of my printers under the PORTS tab. For example for my laser printer:

The first entry looks like:
(nocheck) DOT4_001 ..... HP LaserJet 3390 Printer

The second entry looks like:
(checked) \\P4C800E\HP-3390 ..... Local Port ..... HP Laserjet 3390 / 3392 PCL5

The first entry is unchecked and the second entry with "Local Port" in the Description column is checked.

- Do a test print from Notepad. There should be an entry for the printer on Desktop-1 but it will not say "Local Port". Hopefully you will now be able to print to that printer.

I tried this, and it pauses for a few seconds...now it say's "Communication not Available"...it's almost as if, the network printer is stuck on a USB printer connection...or even a fire wall blocking it..but I can't find one..and I don't have any installed as of yet...

When I do a test print from Notepad, the entry I see for my laser printer is:
"HP LaserJet 3390 / 3392 PCL5" which exactly matches the second entry above.

Sky

Homeuser · Jul 19, 2009

Nope...don't forget, I uninstalled all of them and started fresh....so there was only one of them there...I will look into this a little deeper when I get home from work today...

Skyzoomer · Jul 19, 2009

Homeuser said:
Nope...don't forget, I uninstalled all of them and started fresh....so there was only one of them there...I will look into this a little deeper when I get home from work today...

My impression when I set my printers up was that:

The first entry was when I installed the printer as a local printer by connecting the printer's USB cable to my laptop.

The second entry was when I set the printer up using "Add A Port".

FYI, both my HP inkjet and my HP laser printers have two entries each. I think you should see two entries for each printer if you set yours up the same way I did.

Sky

Homeuser · Jul 20, 2009

Yeah, I don't have laptop with me, but I did set it up the same way...step by step from above....I removed everything that has to do with Dell printer, I even went into the registry and removed everything there as well...then I did it your way, step by step...I think there was only 1 entry...but I will double check later today..

Homeuser · Aug 3, 2009

Not sure if anyone was waiting for me to reply or not, I've checked eveything..I'm all out of options, it just won't work.....

Homeuser · Aug 17, 2009

Ok, I guess I've stummped everyone......

Skyzoomer · Aug 17, 2009

Homeuser said:
Ok, I guess I've stummped everyone......

One other thing. I read in another thread that the printer path should not have spaces in the name. For instance my path is:

\\P4C800E\HP-3390

Where P4C800E is the name of the computer and HP-3390 is the name of the printer.

If this isn't it, then I don't have any other ideas. Good luck,
Sky

Homeuser · Aug 18, 2009

Thanks Sky, I've done that....I just guess, its not meant to be.....

ljbsh1elds · Aug 18, 2009

Can't print with VISTA

I'm having the same problem and everyone is stumped. I've been on the phone with my printer and my laptop manufacturers - no go. XP and VISTA Home Basic were OK, but Home Premium just can't connect to the printer. I'm going to have to run a USB across the house, I guess.
I'm hoping when I convert both machines to WIN 7, the problem will go away.

Homeuser · Aug 19, 2009

Let me know how yo make out...

ljbsh1elds · Aug 20, 2009

I did find something that may help you. If you have machines that are on different versions of Windows Vista (I have Basic and Premium) you may need to load multiple device drivers on each one. Go to the Sharing tab of your Printer Properties. When you try to change the sharing options you'll see a note at the bottom about loading multiple drivers (in Vista - I don't think it was in XP). If you continue it will let you add more drivers as long as you know EXACTLY where to find the executable.
In my case I have an X86 and an X64 machine but I can't load the drivers because my printer manufacturer (Kodak) can't tell me where they are.
I hope this problem will go away once I convert both machines to WIN7 - otherwise I'll have to buy a new printer and will be an extremely unhappy camper.

Let me know if any of this helps.

divrdrew · Oct 23, 2009

I'm having similar issues.

Remote System - running Vista x64 Ultimate

Local is Windows 7 Pro

Also tried a local machine with XP Pro.

All local resources are checked for the RD session (remote Vista machine even sees my mp3 player and iPhone when plugged into my local machine).

Vista simply does not any of my local printers. Have tried the following:

Local Windows 7 with networked and USB printer.
Local XP with networked and USB printer.

Installed the latest driver (Samsung SCX-4725 FN) on local machine. When I try to install it on remote Vista machine, it searches for but never finds any printer. Tried to get it to find local printer with the steps outlined above - cannot find printer. Tried to find networked printer - cannot find printer. Have tried 'add new printer' and it won't see the printer either.

Have spent hours on this one. Working with MSFT's free support and they are totally worthless too.

Seems to be a pretty obvious Vista issue to me. Vista simply won't see my printer no matter how I have it configured. Doesn't matter that I don't have the drivers installed...can't install the drivers...vista won't see the printer.

Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

bassfisher6522 · Oct 23, 2009

When printer sharing, click network, add printer, click add a network, wireless or bluetooth printer and then click next. This should search your network and find the printer and install the drivers and software for the printer. If not Load the software of the printer onto the laptop manually and see it that works. It should work.

divrdrew · Oct 23, 2009

Printer works fine from local laptop either networked or via USB. Either way, remote Vista system won't see it when I try to add a printer or install the drivers (driver install locates printer before adding drivers and that won't find printer either). As I mentioned in my other post, remote vista system sees other stuff plugged in to local machine, just not printer.

divrdrew · Oct 26, 2009

My problem was that the Vista remote system never saw local port that my printer was using for some reason. This was with it both networked and plugged in via USB port.

I finally figued it out after four days and many hours on the phone with Microsoft. Microsoft support claimed that it was related to my router settings, but I didn't believe it since the remote computer saw my iPhone just fine when it was connected locally. After simply playing around, here's what I found...it was actually quite basic!

On the remote system, when you try to add a 'local' printer, there's a drop down menu with a list of local ports that your remote system sees. Some of those will be on the remote system, but others will be on your local system. Make a note of the ones that are seen on your local system. In my case, LPT1 was not visible, but COM3 was (many were named PRN11, PRN12, etc, but weren't identified further).

Next, on your local system, in the settings for your functioning printer (Printer Properties, Ports Tab), there's a tick box that says "Enable Printer Pooling." Once you check that box, you can select multiple ports on your local machine. Here, you need to tick the box for the port that your remote system is seeing (in my case, it's COM3), but make sure that your exisitng port remains checked as well (in my case, an IP port for my wireless router). Basically what you're doing is on your local system, you are pooling your exising printer setup with a port that can be seen by your remote system.

Then, on the remote system, install the printer drivers but don't select a port. Then go into Printers and add a printer. Select 'local' setup for that and when asked for the port, use the port you checked in the previous step on your local system (in my case, I selected COM3 on my local system). Select your printer from the list. It will ask if you want to use the exisiting drivers...say yes. Then print a test page to be sure that it works. Worked fine for me.

I simply can't believe how obvious that solution was! If the remote system can't see the port you currently use, pool your printer setup with a port that it can see!

Cannot print to a network printer

New Member

My Computer

My Computer

New Member

My Computer

My Computer

New Member

My Computer

My Computer

New Member

My Computer

My Computer

New Member

My Computer

New Member

My Computer

New Member

My Computer

My Computer

New Member

My Computer

New Member

My Computer

New Member

My Computer

New Member

My Computer

My Computer

Member

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer