Printing Issues

AD Printers

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.)

Q: Can't print a DOS application through the network printer

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).

How can I change the w2k networking printer settings and load a new driver

If we need to change the settings or load a new driver on a w2k/xp networking printer, we may have three options.

1) Change the settings or load a new driver on w2k server. The settings and drivers  will be downloaded to the w2k/xp workstations.

2) If you need to load a driver locally and manually on the w2k/xp workstations, we may logon as administrator and copy our settings to the users after loading the driver.

3) Or give the users Manage Printers right temporarily.

Q: How to add NT 4 network sharing printers on XP

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.

How to delete a printing job that won't go away

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.

How to save or print a file list

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 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.

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

A: Printing from MS-DOS-based programs does not work if the printer is a Postscript Printer.

How do I clear jobs from the spooler.

1. Start/Run/Net stop spooler - This stops the spooler subsystem
2. Start/Run/Spool - This will open an explorer window at <windows>\system32\spool
3. Open the printers folder in the above window
4. Delete anything present in this folder - this will delete any pending print jobs
5. Start/Run/Net start spooler - This will re-start the spooler subsystem

You can even create a batch file that will do this and stick it on your desktop or quick-launch bar. Just copy the text between the lines into a new text file and name it something like fixspool.bat.

Copy as below to text file and then rename to: fixspool.bat

@echo off
net stop spooler
del %windir%\system32\spool\*.spl /Q
del %windir%\system32\spool\*.shd /Q
net start spooler

This batch file won't help monitor anything, but it will at least quickly get you printing again.