Cant print to shared printer unless main pc prints first.

[Keacher]

A printer is connected to LPT1 of a XP machine and is shared with two 98 PC's. When the XP machine is restarted, the 98 pc's can't print to it until either I stop and start the already running XP print spool service, or I print something directly from the XP pc.

When something is sent from the w98 pc's, they appear in the print queue on the XP pc, but will not print until I carry out the above actions. They just sit in the queue with no messages.

If I stop and start the print spool service or print from the XP pc immediately after start up then the w98 pc's will print.

I have tried re-installing printer drivers on all the pc's.
I would love any help people can give.

 

[jimp56]

how exactly did you go about setting up the shared printer on the w98 computers? did you browse network, click on the xp pc, then the printer?

 

[bcastner]

Keacher,

Are there newer drivers available for that printer?
Is the printer enabled for bi-directional communications, and is a proper bi-directional cable being used?