Network Printer Problem - Switching to shared printer

I manage a 12 workstation network with win2000 running on the server and WINXP Pro on the workstations. Each of the workstations has an HP Laser printer hooked directly to it with the exception of one that has an Epson Color Inkjet printer hooked directly to it.

I set the Epson printer up as a shared printer and was able to connect and print from each of the other workstations.

The problem I'm experiencing is that all of the workstations continually switch to the shared Epson as the default printer, even though I've set the HP on each workstation as the default printer. This occurs even though nothing has been sent to the Epson printer.

I have opened the Printers & Faxes window, set the HP as the default printer, closed the window and reopened it and it will automatically select the Epson as the default without any interaction from me. This occurs on every workstation.

Is there some setting I'm missing here? I've never experienced this before when sharing a printer.

Thanks in advance,

Rod

 

This is really strange behavior and something I've never heard of before either. If you don't mind some groping around:

Are you running IPX/SPX on your network?

If you remove both printers, load the networked printer first and then the local one, will the same thing happen?

 

Rod

Will this Guide help:
http://www.intel.com/support/netport/24468.htm

 

Newt:

Yes we're using IPX/SPX on the network.

Interesting idea about removing and reinstalling the printers in reverse order. I'll give this try.

One other thing I've noticed is that the Epson has a Printer Status Monitor program that seems to always want to be running, even on the workstations that it is only being shared with. If I disengage the Status Monitor from a workstation, and then reopen the Printer and Faxes folder the Status Monitor comes back on its own and this is when it appears that the Epson printer becomes the Default printer. I've removed all references to the status monitor that I could find in the registry, but it keeps coming back.


IRDREED:

Thanks for the link, but we're not using a print server. The printer is simply set up as a shared resource from the workstation it is connected to.


Rod

 

Rod,

You won't be able to because it's part of the program's Normal(?) operation. I think this has been done since the 700 series Epson printers. (At least I don't remeber it being in the 600 series) I'm currently running an 800 series Epson and have it there too.

Sorry 'bout the wrong info I sent you. I wasn't aware you were still using Netware setup...at least I think that's what you're using.

(Could this be another one of XP's Networking quirks?)
Hope Newt's Suggestion works. Keep us posted.

 

Rod - I may be headed off in the wrong direction but IPX/Novell printers broadcast every 5 seconds announcing their presence on the network. Normal Novell behavior but I have seen it cause problems on Windows/IP networks.

Are you running an environment where you require IPX on all machines? If not, try unbinding the protocol from the network card on the PC /w the problem printer.

If you require IPX you might try the registry tweak shown Here.

 

Newt,

I may be mistaken, but it seems to me he's running an older version of Netware that may not be compatable with the setup he has with Win XP Pro.

Netware 5 uses IPX/SPX , but that was phased out with Netware 6 which uses TCP/IP exclusively.

Don't laugh , but I slept on this this and I startled awake with a Bright Idea in the middle of my "Senior Citizen Nap" with maybe, a possible answer.

The solution I thought of, was to put another HP Printer in place of the Epson and put the Epson on a Print Server so all work stations can have access.

 

My apologies, in my hurry to respond to Newt's suggestion I incorrectly stated that the network was using IPX/SPX. The old network does this one does not.

Newt: I tried your suggestion of uninstalling and then reinstalling the printers in reverse order, but this did not resolve the problem.

An interesting note though as I continued to work on this issue is that if I select the Epson printer as the default printer on one workstation it changes the Epson printer to the default printer on every workstation??????

irdeed: Sorry to have caused you to awaken from your nap with such a start .
I too have considered putting the Epson on a Print Server, but would like to try and keep the configuration I currently have for simplicities sake.

Rod

 

Rod

I've done this many many times in the past....sleep, and find solutions to troubles...amazing. I guess the process is still there, but....old age has krept in......Nah!!

I'm lost now, so if this is ever configured as you want, I'd sure like to know at that time.

Out of curiousity, is the system using Netware 5? I didn't see it mentioned in any posts.

Good luck

 

I too have considered putting the Epson on a Print Server, but would like to try and keep the configuration I currently have for simplicities sake.

In many ways a print server with the OS mix you have would be simpler than having the printer slaved to a PC.

 

Solution Found

I was finally able to find a solution to this problem. The following directions on how to correct this issue are from an e-mail that I received from Epson this morning in response to my help request. It is placed here in the hopes of helping others who may be experiencing the same problem;

This issue may occur when a "mapped" install is present, that is, if the printer was installed on the clients across the network using the "Add Printer/ Network" feature.

To correct this do the following on the client machines only:

1. Open Printers or Printers and Faxes (XP) window. Delete all copies of the Epson printer.
2. Obtain Printer Driver download only OR load Epson software CD and install the printer driver only.
3. Install here as if it was a local connection. On the screen which prompts you to make sure that the printer is on and connected click "STOP SEARCHING ". The install will default to LPT1, which is fine to start with.

Before configuring this driver to the proper port name do the following to disable its monitoring features. (The Status Monitor will not return ink level data over the network and in fact may slow the system or take over default printer in the attempt.)

Windows XP:
1. Go to Start, Control Panel, Printers and Faxes.
2. Right click on your Epson printer name, left click Printing Preferences.
3. Go to Maintenance or Utility tab. Click "Speed and Progress" button.
4. Place a check beside "Disable Epson Status Monitor 3 ". Click OK, OK.

Windows 98/ME/2000:
1. Go to Start, Settings, Printers.
2. Right click on your Epson printer name, left click Printing Preferences.
3. Go to Maintenance or Utility tab. Click "Speed and Progress" button.
4. Place a check beside "Disable Epson Status Monitor 3 ". Click OK, APPLY, OK.

Once monitoring is disabled use these instructions to set the proper network-named port.

ON A CLIENT WORKSTATION(s) RUNNING WINDOWS 95 / 98 / ME:

1. Make sure the printer driver for your Epson printer is installed on each computer on the Network that you wish to give access to the printer.
2. Click START, SETTINGS and select PRINTERS.
3. Highlight the icon for your printer and click FILE and select PROPERTIES.
4. Select the DETAILS tab.
5. Click ADD PORT.
6. Select the NETWORK radio button and click BROWSE. (NOTE: If you cannot browse to the shared printer, contact your Network Administrator.)
7. Look for the COMPUTER NAME of the workstation that the printer is directly connected to and click the + sign next to it.
8. Look for the SHARE NAME of the shared printer and click on it once to highlight it.
9. Click OK.
10. Click APPLY.


ON A CLIENT WORKSTATION(s) RUNNING WINDOWS NT 4.0:

1. Make sure the printer driver for your Epson printer is installed as a local printer on each computer on the Network that you wish to give access to the printer.
2. Click START, SETTINGS and select PRINTERS.
3. Highlight the icon for your printer and click FILE and select PROPERTIES.
4. Select the PORTS tab.
5. Click ADD PORT. (NOTE: If you are unable to complete steps 5-8, contact your Network Administrator.)
6. Click LOCAL PORT.
7. Click NEW PORT.
8. Type \\FULL COMPUTER NAME\SHARED AS NAME of the printer you are wanting to connect to i.e. \\WINXP\EPSON800 (NOTE: This is not a valid entry. Do not attempt to use this example.)
9. Click OK and CLOSE.
10. Click APPLY.
11. Select the GENERAL tab.
12. Click PRINT TEST PAGE.


ON A CLIENT WORKSTATION(s) RUNNING WINDOWS 2000:

1. Make sure the printer driver for your Epson printer is installed as a local printer on each computer on the Network that you wish to give access to the printer.
2. Click START, SETTINGS and select PRINTERS.
3. Highlight the icon for your printer and click FILE and select PROPERTIES.
4. Select the PORTS tab.
5. Click ADD PORT. (NOTE: If you are unable to complete steps 5-8, contact your Network Administrator.)
6. Click LOCAL PORT.
7. Click NEW PORT.
8. Type \\FULL COMPUTER NAME\SHARED AS NAME of the printer you are wanting to connect to i.e. \\WINXP\EPSON800 (NOTE: This is not a valid entry. Do not attempt to use this example.)
9. Click OK and CLOSE.
10. Click APPLY.
11. Select the GENERAL tab.
12. Click PRINT TEST PAGE.


ON A CLIENT WORKSTATION(s) RUNNING WINDOWS XP:

1. Make sure the printer driver for your Epson printer is installed as a local printer on each computer on the Network that you wish to give access to the printer.
2. Click START, CONTROL PANEL and select PRINTERS AND FAXES or PRINTERS AND OTHER HARDWARE.
3. Highlight the icon for your printer and click FILE and select PROPERTIES.
4. Select the PORTS tab.
5. Click ADD PORT. (NOTE: If you are unable to complete steps 5-8, contact your Network Administrator.)
6. Click LOCAL PORT
7. Click NEW PORT.
8. Type \\FULL COMPUTER NAME\SHARED AS NAME of the printer you are wanting to connect to i.e. \\WINXP\EPSON800 (NOTE: This is not a valid entry. Do not attempt to use this example.)
9. Click OK and CLOSE.
10. Click APPLY.
11. Select the GENERAL tab.
12. Click PRINT TEST PAGE.

Thanks for all the suggestions from those of you who responded to my original post. I'm a happy camper now

 

Rod,
Thanks for posting back a solution to a rather complex problem.

 

I have to say on reading this - Poor driver design.

People alway find a need to share a printer (even when we don't want them to!). There should be a personal printer driver and a network printer driver. The later without all the printer monitoring overhead.

I have occasionally found this kind of thing to happen on HP printers (my favoured brand), when the default setup installs a printer monitor app, even when connecting over the network. This is especially the case when the printer is design as a "personal" printer. Usually nowadays you can find a PCL on the HP site that will work well over the network.

The good old fix to "get the thing to print" with HP printers was to use the Deskjet 550c drivers for deskjet printers or the Laserjet 4 drivers for Laserjets. They always work. You may lose a little speed and quality, but you can get them up and running.

So if you get the same problem again on a different print I would recommend trying a driver for an older model of printer. You may well be pleasantly surprised.