Intermittent Printing Issues on 1 Laptop in a Network

Home Network (been hooked up for several years – several months with the current machines and no recent changes)

Desktop XP - with ethernet connection from router and two printers connected
Netbook (wireless) – win7 starter
Laptop (wireless) – win7 home premium (64-bit)

All computers see each other and share documents (with full control) and share the printers attached to the Desktop.

2-3 months ago I started randomly loosing the ability to print from the Laptop (my primary computer). From the Laptop, I could (and still can) access and update documents on both the Desktop or Netbook, but could not print from the Laptop. 'Devices and Printers' were EMPTY on the Laptop, but I could still see the printers under 'Network'.

Over the past 2-3 months I would routinely power down the modem and router... and restart. That would resolve the issue... until now. For the past few days that is not working to fix the printer issue. The Netbook has no printing issues.

BTW – I have worked with folks at the Malware forum the last few days and have a clean system. I have also rebooted the modem, router and all computers several times to no avail. Everything operates normally on all three systems... except the ability to print from the Laptop or even see anything under 'Devices and Printers' on the Laptop.

Any ideas what to try next... besides a hammer <Grin>?

Thanks

 

Greetings, hcrawfor...

I like the hammer idea...

Are any printer drivers installed on the problem laptop? If so, you might try a driver re-install (because of the 'Devices and Printers' being empty). Also, consider paring down the network to two discrete devices (laptop, one printer) to see if you can produce a change in symptoms.

I am certainly not a networking wiz (or a printer person, for that matter) - just plugging in what steps I would take if I were in your shoes. Be patient - I'm sure there are other MGs who will chime in with some other suggestions.

 

Not sure what you mean 'paring down the network to two discrete devices (laptop, one printer)'. I have an old Desktop XP with two printers connected via USB cables, router and two laptops. Although the laptops have changed over the years, the Desktop has remained a constant. I'm not even sure the printers are compatible with Win7, but that shouldn't matter. The printers are connected and running off the XP.

Although I haven't changed laptops in several months, I have had other laptops in the past. I simple put them all in the same WORKGROUP and share documents and the printers. After reading your post, I did try to hook up each laptop (one at a time) to one of the printers. The system couldn't find a compatible driver for either of the Win7 laptops (actually a netbook and a laptop).

Went back to original setup.... Desktop connected to both printers. Same problem. The Netbook printed fine, but not the Laptop. Very strange.

BTW - I have taken the Netbook to several locations. As long as I can connect to their network, and they share their printer, I can print from anybody's printer without loading drivers onto the Netbook. And it's an inexpensive 10 inch ($250) Walmart (Acer) Netbook <Grin>.

In fact, when I display 'Printers and Drivers' on the Netbook, all these past printers I have used show up. That's why I don't believe loading print drivers on my 17 inch laptop is necessary.

Thanks

 

When you add a printer to the laptop you never see it in "devices and printers"?

So, if you START > RUN \\desktop-pc you should see the printers. You right click on one of the printers and say CONNECT, what happens?

 

I can NOT add a printer. When I click on "Devices and Printers", the system is in a continuous search mode... can't even see the normal 'Add a device' or 'Add printer' option.

The only place I see the printers is when I open "Windows Explorer" and view the networks. However, right clicking a printer and clicking on Open or Connect does nothing.

That same window is what 's displayed when I use the 'Run' command as you suggested. If I click on 'View remote printers" in that window, it becomes blank, but does have an "Add printer" option. However, after clicking on it, the Add Printer Wizard does not start, and the window turns to "not responding". This has happened several times.

Thanks

 

Update - Issue resolved

Through an internet search I found a solution that fixed my problem. Under 'Administrative Tools', 'Component Services', 'Services (Local)'.... I started 'Bluetooth Support Service' and set it to Automatic. That did it.

I have absolutely no idea why this solution worked, but it did. I now see both printers on my network in 'Devices and Printers' and I can print from my Laptop. My Netbook, which never had this issue, reflects the bluetooh service as 'Stopped' and set to 'Manual'. Who would of thunk <grin>? And why did it work before without this solution??? Anybody's guess.

 

Well done! That is an odd solution, but hey - if it works, it works. Thanks for the feedback.

 

Interesting. VG.