ALL Network Printers Refusing To Play

[Mictain]

Hi all, and er... help!?!

We have been trying to get an HP LaserJet printer to work over our network, but to no avail. The printer had been setup by someone who's on holiday atm, and it looks like they simply forgot to add a port IP address to the printer properties. So we got a configuration printout and looked at the assigned IP.

So in theory, add this into the Port tab and things should be okay? No chance.

The printer folder itself decided to freeze for longer than is healthy. Much longer. So we closed the application. The system tray icons also disappeared. Then the printer folder wouldn't open at all, so we rebooted the box.

Everything seemed to come up okay, we could get into the required folder again, but couldn't open up any of the printers or look at any of their properties. Not one! And then the users said they were unable to print to ANY of the printers.

So, any ideas why this would have happened, please, and how we can start looking for causes? I have noticed a couple of anomolies between that server's TCP / Domain settings and our main print & file server, but I don't wish to make changes to get them set the same in case that causes more grief! (They are on different sites so it may be intentional).

Any help greatfully received. Now it's back onto cups of tea, head scratching and innovative swearing...

Thanks,

Neil.

 

[NortonES2]

Check that the Print spooler service is running.

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If it doesn't leak oil it must be empty!!

 

[Mictain]

Hi Norton,

Looked at that previously and it was on. It's on now as well. BUT I have just told the Spooler service to restart (just to check) and it's apparently linked to the Print Server For Macintosh service which appears to be having trouble stopping... hmmm...

 

[outonalimb]

Is the printer connected to an external print server such as a HP JetDirect or does it have an internal network card?

 

[Mictain]

The problematic printer (4100) has an internal card. The others are a mixture of internal and external. I think they may all be JD based, but not 100% certain.

 

[Mictain]

And nipping back to the Mac Print Server service, this didn't want to stop and fell over, so now it's showing as 'Automatic' on startup but displays no status. If I try and start it I get "Error 2182: The requested service has already been started" and I can't restart the Spooler service until the Mac one behaves itself as they're linked. If I try I get "The service could not be controlled in its present state".

Disabling the Mac service or making it manual makes no difference. I'm sure it's not helping the situation!