default printer keeps changing

My 2nd issue:

On a very regular basis on all 3 of my XP machines (1 is Media Center Edition, the other 2 are both "Home" editions, 1 is a laptop) my default printer will CHANGE from my laser (HP 1200) to the FAX printer part of my color printer (HP 3300).

I do have a home network, 2 computers are hard-wired, laptop & color printer are wireless LAN.

I don't know if this is an XP issue or not, so I'll start here. I have zero clue as to why this happens....

 

Hi,

To be honest,I don't know why it is changing.
I have XP (Pro),still,the same happens to me.

There are several ways to set the default,through Control Panel > Printers and Faxes.
R-click the printer you want and tick "Set as default "

Here is another way using a utilty:
http://www.thirdring.net/setdefaultprinter/index.htm

Hope this helps

Pete.

 

Discussion and possible work around

Since you don't have XP Pro you may have to make a reg file to run on startup.

 

deck,

Don't worry with the fact I have XP Pro,
that has nothing to do with it.
Forget about the reg file,
just try the SetDefaultPrinter utility.
It does more than the name implies.

Pete.