network can't print to network printer

[ockerb]

Hi
I have 3 computers on a LAN, all can see each other and all can share files. The LAN is shared via a 4 port modem/router. I have a laser ethernet printer also connected to the modem/router hub.
All computers can see the printer but none of them can print to it (Status - Error Printing). The printer is set to share in the printer setup. The printer does work as a local printer via a USB cable onto one of the computers. I can also successfully ping the printer. I am suspecting the modem/router as I have just replaced it but given all the positive evidence it appears to be ok. I have also replaced the CAT 5 cable with a new one as well. Any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated. PS the new modem is a ZyXEL Prestige 660H.

Ockerb

 

[LloydSev]

What model printer is it?

HP network printers require installation of some kind of software on one machine to be able to share the printer for the rest of the machines.

Computer/Network Technician
CCNA

 

[ockerb]

printer is a samsung ml-2551N laser printer

 

[LloydSev]

Did you install the software for it on one machine?

Computer/Network Technician
CCNA

 

[ockerb]

In addition to the above post I also checked the event viewer log and every error to do with the print failure mentioned stopping and starting the print spooler. I have followed those instructions but to no avail

 

[ockerb]

LloydSev , yes I did and each of the other machines copied the software from that machine as I installed the printer onto them. Everything seems to be as I expect it to be except for the obvious....it doesn't work. bummer

 

[ockerb]

Hi
In my futile efforts to resolve this problem I have observed that the printer icon in "printer & faxes" section of control panel indicates that it is "ready". One question I ask as well, if I can successfully ping the ethernet card in the printer is that enough for me to be confident that the card is ok? As I said in my earlier post I have just replaced my modem/router. The printer was working ok before but I can't work out how the new modem/router would only effect the printer and not the 3 computers connected to it. If someone can help me with this I would appreciate it big time.


Ockerb

 

[bcastner]

You have an samsung ml-2551N laser printer.
Let me quote you know:

In addition to the above post I also checked the event viewer log and every error to do with the print failure mentioned stopping and starting the print spooler. I have followed those instructions but to no avail

This is a driver failure. If the print spooler fails, you will not see or be able to use the printer. See Bruce Sanderson, MS-MVP Printing, notes here:

http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm

Having:
. cleaned the older printer driver from all machines;
. having download and applied hopefully a newer driver;

You know have three choices as to how to use this printer:

Choice #1: A standard Network printer
Open Printers and Faxes and rebuild the printer definition. It is a Network Printer, using a TCP/IP Port.

Choice #2: A standard TCP/IP printer, with the queues managed by your Win2003 server

. On the Windows 2003 server, Start, Printers and Faxes, add as a new network printer with a new sharename the newly configured TCP/IP printer.

. On the clients, you use the Sharename from the print server you have declared. \\server\Printer_Sharename as a network printer connection.

Choice #3: a double reference

On the local machine Run, Printers and Faxes, File, Printer server properties, Add Port. Add as the new port either the TCP/IP directly to the printer, or my preference, the \\server\Printer_Sharename.

Second step: Start, Printers and Faxes, Add printer, Local Printer, and when it asks for the port, use the newly created port you created in the step above.