Adding New Printer only finds Computers

I have an associate with a laptop running XP SP2 and when he wants to add a printer that is currently on the network server the search locates all the users but no printers. It's like his SNMP is confused as to device type. He does have some printers shown in the "Printer & Fax" from prior installations but he is denied access to those, stateing that they are invalid. The only way I can allow him to print is by loading the driver on his laptop and creating a port. Any idea as to why the normal "search for printers" is acting this way?

 

Explain to me this statement. Your printers are not SNMP devices.

Start, Run, cmd/k sc queryex spooler

Does the result show the spooler service running? It sounds as if it is not.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. It reports an invalid command when I input the command but no matter, I recognize I don't know what I'm talking about.
Can you tell me what filter, protocol or whatever determines how the computer identifies available printers?

 

Printers under XP should auto-announce their existence to the network, unless this is disabled.

Check: Control Panel, Folder Options, View tab
'Automaticly check for network folders and printers' should be checkmarked.

If in going into Start, Printers and Faxes, you do not see the table populated with identified printers, the issue is likely the Spooler service.

Start, Run, services.msc

Check the Print Spooler service. It must be running, and it must have its startup desposition state set to 'Automatic.'

If it is shown as 'Stoppped', click the button to try and start the service. If it fails to start it will give you a reason why. Write that down.

Now do a Start, Run, eventvwr.msc
Look under the logs, particularly the System log. Your just attempted Start of the Print Spooler and its failure should provide more detailed information as to why it could not be started. Write that down.

Report any error numbers and error text back to the forum.