Shared printer problem

[unfaithfulsfan]

I'm stuck on a printer problem at Village Hall. It's attached to one PC and shared to another computer across the room. It shows up on the network and it's set as the default on both computers. I've tried sharing it from "Add printer" in "Printers and Devices" as well as by going "into" the computer it's attached to and double-clicking the printer there.

It prints fine from the local computer. But if I try to print from the shared one the doc gets stuck in the spooler and won't print until I run the printer troubleshooter on the PC to which it's attached. The driver the printer is using is the latest and greatest from HP for W7.

The only thing I can see for sure is the troubleshooter says the printer spooler service is not running and has to be started (on both PCs). Could it be a case of it not being automatically started due to there's not a physical printer attached to the shared computer? I've seen PCs that boot but start no/extremely minimal services. Somehow I doubt that since it's printing fine on the local computer.

I worked on it all afternoon today and got absolutely nowhere with it. I've got to figure it out quick so I can collect my $$$ to pay the charge on my credit card for my laptop!

All advice is appreciated!

Jack

[shamrok3]

I have no idea about how to fix the problem, but some extra information will help people that do know anything about printer sharing. What model is the Printer? All of my forays into printer sharing have worked out fine, using a Canon MP630. Have you got all the drivers loaded onto both of the computers? If it's a spooling issue, I would begin to blame faulty hardware rather than a software or network problem.

[ibleet]

Check in "services" and make sure the Print Spooler is set to: startup type - Automatic, and status is Started.

[Darkstar]

Do both computers/users have "full control" in the shared printer properties?

[unfaithfulsfan]

Sorry, shamrok3, I was so tired last night, I didn't think to include the model number. It's an HP LaserJet 1022.

DarkStar, so far as I know. I'll have to check again when I get down there.

ibleet, that was the path I was leaning towards but I can't remember how to get into services (If you don't use it you lose it and I have apparently lost more than I knew I remember "mssvc" but don't know if that has anything to do with it.)

I just can't imagine it being hardware because the network card is obviously working and sending the doc. It's just getting hosed up somehow.

Thanks,
Jack

[ibleet]

Type services.msc in RUN or Startmenu Searchbox and press <Enter>.

[Darkstar]

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/docu ... =c00843712

might want to check this out and maybe run the utility....

[unfaithfulsfan]

Type services.msc in RUN or Startmenu Searchbox and press <Enter>.

THAT's the one!!!!!! Thanks

[unfaithfulsfan]

Well I am totally flummoxed. The printer spooler is working. Everyone and their brother can, at least in theory, print to that printer as far as the permissions go. I just don't get it. DarkStar from what I gathered, that article was about the computer the printer is actually connected to. Surely (don't call me shirley) the server has nothing to do with it.

I don't know what the hell to do next.

[Darkstar]

hmm, ok...i didnt see anything about the server......

[unfaithfulsfan]

hmm, ok...i didnt see anything about the server......

I can print just fine from there, too! I can print from every computer in the office (I'm not sure about the mayor's, however) except the one that needs to be printed from.

[Darkstar]

did you try deleting the printer and re adding it? logging on as another user and printing?

[unfaithfulsfan]

Yeah, several times. I even removed and reinstalled the printer on the machine it's connected to then dl'd and overwrote the driver to make sure I had the right one. I just cannot figure out how this is so complicated. I have the same set up at home but it's Vista and XP and I can print to/from both printers in the house. I just don't get it.

The LaserJet is the default printer on both PCs; everyone has full control over the printer; the spooler service is running; I can print to Windows Document Writer with no trouble; I can PING the PC that has the printer connected to it; I can print to the printer from all W2K PCs in the office and the printer driver is the latest W7 driver available. I must be over-complicating this somehow or other but I'm damned if I know how I am.

[unfaithfulsfan]

I found the solution on a Windows 7 forum. I had to go into the sharing computer's printer properties under "Ports" and deselect "Enable bidirectional support" Gimme a damn break! That solved the problem and they can print happily tomorrow and I can feel like I earned my money.

Thanks everyone for trying to help me. I'm extremely grateful to all of you.

Jack