False Paper Jam on network printer

[DonKlein]

On a Windows SBS 2003 network, one network computer running XP-Pro reports a paper jam and 3 unprinted documents on a HP Laserjet 4050 network printer when logged in as the day to day user who has administrator rights. The printer is not jammed and works fine from the other workstations on the network and as administrator on the machine in question.

Attempting to delete the printer from Windows returns an error "Printer connection cannot be removed. Either the printer name was typed incorrectly, or the specified printer has lost its connection to the server..."

I deleted the printer folder in the registry under Current Users - Printers - Connections and it disappears from Windows. Rebooting reconnects the printer but it still reports a paper jam and 3 unprinted documents.

Thoughts?

Don

 

[willybgw]

Try start, run, cmd.

1.At prompt type NET STOP SPOOLER

2. Go to c:\windows\system32\spool\printers and delete all files.

3. Go back to cmd prompt and type NET START SPOOLER.

This should clear the problem computer.

willybgw

 

[DonKlein]

No files exist in c:\windows\system32\spool\printers to delete. Windows explorer is set to show all files and I went to the directory via a dos prompt to verify.

Thanks for trying.

Don

 

[BadBigBen]

Have you tried printing from another tray? e.g. if it is set to tray 2 (bottom) set it to tray 1 (top), or vice-versa...

PS: the bottom tray needs a bit of clearance as it drops down a bit before it can suck in the paper... so check the printer placement, and if someone might have placed something underneath it...

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[Cwgunder]

It's only one network PC that's reporting the problem? You also stated that you've already deleted the registry keys for that user's network printer and the spooler folder's empty as well. That normally does it for me.

There's only two things left to try. The first and easiest thing would be to recreate the user's profile. OR just try it under a different user. If the problem is in the registry under HKEY_CURRENT_USER, which is were most network printer info is kept, then it shouldn't occurr while logged in as another user.

Also, see if the printer is registered as a local printer. That would be under [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Printers]

One more thing. I dont' suspect your problem is here, but just in case it helps, you may be able to look at driver information and Print Processor DLL locations that are kept under

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86\Print Processors]
and
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments\Windows NT x86\Drivers]

Maybe you can compare that to another computer with the same printer installed.


Hope this helps

Good Luck!

Chris

 

[DonKlein]

The printer itself is fine The problem is / was in the user profile of one network machine. I just ran a search of the entire registry for the printers unique name and deleted all references to it. A reboot reconnected the printer to the user and all is well - at leasr for now. Thanks all for the suggestions.

Don

 

[BadBigBen]

Glad you found the problem, and that you fixed it... and thank you for posting back with how you did it...



Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"