Question

Printers disappear in the registry and some applications--still visible in control panel but cannot select default printer

Asked by: scotru

Greetings,

I have a client with an unusual problem.  A few days ago she complained of being unable to print.  I examined the computer and found that she had no default printer selected, and selecting a default printer by right clicking had no effect.  I checked the registry and found no listings under:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Devices

and no default printer under

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Window

and no ports under

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\PrinterPorts

The printers did show up under Control Panel->Printers and I was able to print test pages.    However, certain programs produced error messages about having no installed printers (Microsoft Publisher for example)--and all programs showed no default printer but would print if a printer was manually selected (Microsoft Word for example).

So I deleted all her printers and reinstalled them.  I verified that they showed up correct in the registry and that she could print again from all programs.  A few hours later, however, she called me with the same problem again.  

A few details:

Windows XP Professional SP3
This is a mobile workstation that she uses both at work and at home
It is a domain member (Windows 2003 domain)
She has mostly IP printers with one network shared printer installed.  
There are a wide range of printer drivers including many HPs (4000n, 2200dn, Photosmart 6100 series, 5si), a couple of Minolta's (a couple copy machines and a magicolor 2300dl) and some brothers (5250dn).  

Any suggestions are appreciated.  

Thanks!

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Asked On
2009-07-28 at 23:17:21ID24608555
Tags

windows xp

,

printers

Topics

Windows XP Operating System

,

Printers by HP

Participating Experts
1
Points
500
Comments
6

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Answers

 

by: GubelinPosted on 2009-08-03 at 06:58:51ID: 25004346

Please check the Event log if there is problem with rights on files under documents and settings\default user\...

 

by: scotruPosted on 2009-08-05 at 00:12:10ID: 25020791

I'll take a look at the event log.  I granted rights to everyone all the keys involved as a precaution and nothing changed.  She seems to lose the keys everytime she logs off and logs back in.  As a band-aid for now, I've written a batch file that reimports the registry keys everytime she logs in--a definite cludge.

 

by: GubelinPosted on 2009-08-05 at 00:19:24ID: 25020822

Please take a look *.dat files under default user profile. I had the same problem. I put on all rights back as it should be (compare rights on files with one healthy computer). After that I recreated (her) local profile on the computer and everything was working normally.

 

by: scotruPosted on 2009-08-05 at 00:28:09ID: 25020854

I'll take a look--actually that would make a lot of sense.  I had to transfer her user profile from another computer after a system failure and had to seize ownership or her files--I could well have messed up permissions on them during that process.  

 

by: GubelinPosted on 2009-08-05 at 01:25:33ID: 25021149

Please inform me how it is going.

 

by: scotruPosted on 2009-08-15 at 14:19:58ID: 31609086

Thanks!

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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