Can't print without restarting Print Spooler Service

This is beyond weird.

About 10 weeks ago my workstation quit being able to print. I have 3 HP
Network printers on a small domain based network with a Windows 2003 server.
I believe this to have started after installing a LaserJet 5100dtn driver,
but HP thinks that is just a coincidence at this point. I have tried a
zillion things with HP tech support to no effect.

Here's the symptoms:

If I reboot I can print for maybe 20 minutes. then i can't.

The usual remedy is to restart the "Print Spooler" service. then in a
minute or two it will print. But for only another 20-30 minutes or so.

If I try to print and can't, rebooting will cause everything to print all at
once as soon as i log back on to the network. Then it works again for
another 20-30 minutes.

This is the only workstation on the network that has that problem. I am
running XP pro SP2 on it with all of the latest updates, patches, fixes, etc.
I have checked and rechecked the updates.

The print jobs have been passed on to the printer's spooler in some cases
and the Windows print queue is empty and i still have to restart the Print
Spooler Service.

Some print jobs are stuck in the Window's Print Queue (Start, Printers and
faxes) and restarting the print job from that location has no effect.

All three printers work from other workstations and from the Windows 2003
server. The printers are true network enabled printers and have reserved IP
addresses reserved by the server's DHCP server. I can ping the printers just
fine from the workstation.

My Windows firewall is turned off.

I replaced all my network cables and bought a brand new 1000BaseT Switch and
everything reports to be working at full 1 Gbit speeds. I upgraded the NIC
drivers at the workstation and the file server and everything reports no
errors and passes all tests. Everything can ping everything else so i don't
believe its the network timing out or something odd like that.

No, i didn't try a system restore, yet as that would cost me days of
reloading important software, updates, patches, registration,
authorizations,etc.

I really hitting the wall on this one and I'm desparate for any help!

Thanks in advance.

So you are printing directly to the printers not to a shared printer on the
Win2k3 server?

I suggest deleting all printers and drivers from the machine which is
exhibiting the problems.

Follow Bruce Sanderson's directions to remove the drivers from the system
after deleting the printers.

http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/CleanPrinterDrivers.htm


Also what type of network print ports are you using?
--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

"Devonshire" <Devonshire.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C8C1C962-693E-43DB-9848-5D0BD74D62C8@microsoft.com...
> This is beyond weird.
>
> About 10 weeks ago my workstation quit being able to print. I have 3 HP
> Network printers on a small domain based network with a Windows 2003
> server.
> I believe this to have started after installing a LaserJet 5100dtn driver,
> but HP thinks that is just a coincidence at this point. I have tried a
> zillion things with HP tech support to no effect.
>
> Here's the symptoms:
>
> If I reboot I can print for maybe 20 minutes. then i can't.
>
> The usual remedy is to restart the "Print Spooler" service. then in a
> minute or two it will print. But for only another 20-30 minutes or so.
>
> If I try to print and can't, rebooting will cause everything to print all
> at
> once as soon as i log back on to the network. Then it works again for
> another 20-30 minutes.
>
> This is the only workstation on the network that has that problem. I am
> running XP pro SP2 on it with all of the latest updates, patches, fixes,
> etc.
> I have checked and rechecked the updates.
>
> The print jobs have been passed on to the printer's spooler in some cases
> and the Windows print queue is empty and i still have to restart the Print
> Spooler Service.
>
> Some print jobs are stuck in the Window's Print Queue (Start, Printers and
> faxes) and restarting the print job from that location has no effect.
>
> All three printers work from other workstations and from the Windows 2003
> server. The printers are true network enabled printers and have reserved
> IP
> addresses reserved by the server's DHCP server. I can ping the printers
> just
> fine from the workstation.
>
> My Windows firewall is turned off.
>
> I replaced all my network cables and bought a brand new 1000BaseT Switch
> and
> everything reports to be working at full 1 Gbit speeds. I upgraded the
> NIC
> drivers at the workstation and the file server and everything reports no
> errors and passes all tests. Everything can ping everything else so i
> don't
> believe its the network timing out or something odd like that.
>
> No, i didn't try a system restore, yet as that would cost me days of
> reloading important software, updates, patches, registration,
> authorizations,etc.
>
> I really hitting the wall on this one and I'm desparate for any help!
>
> Thanks in advance.