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Why can't our server see our Canon Printer anymore?

We have a Canon Imageclass D760 printer that is connected via USB to our Windows 2003 server. It worked for years with no issues. Recenty, Windows 2003 server stopped having the ability to print to it for whatever reason. The strange thing is, our workstations who access it via the share on the server, they could continue to print to it just fine, but the server could not print to it, it always hung forever and said error connecting. Kind of odd.

Now, today, we tried adding a new workstation to the printer and that seemed to be the last straw. Now the other workstations (including the new station) cannot print to it. The server just doesn't see it anymore either. I don't think the printer is bad because it works on different machines . . . but the server just can't see it. The server has countless other things plugged in USB so I don't think it's the server. We need this working ASAP for a meeting today. Any chance someone can give me some tips to get it back up on the server???

Thanks!

Jsmply

ASKER

Another piece of info, when you try to re-add it and print a test page from the server, it almost completely crashes it. The server desktop goes blank for a moment and then re-opens. It's as if explorer.exe were crashing on an XP machine or something. Half the time I have to restart the print spooler after that. Help!@

bkrontz

If I were you...

Reboot server... if nothing... unplug all usb devices including the printer... reboot... plug in printer... if nothing... remove all software and drivers for printer with add/remove software in control panel... unplug printer... reboot... download and install latest software/drivers for printer... plug in printer to a different usb port than where it used to live... pray... if nothing... call canon or vendor... or find other advice here.

If you can't reboot the server, you can try all of that without reboots.

bkrontz

Check drive space on C

Jsmply

ASKER

Tried all of that. =( No Go

bkrontz

Check Event Logs

Jsmply

ASKER

Plenty of space. It only happens with this printer too is the odd thing (but it's the only USB connected printer, but not device) . .. but the printer works fine on a different computer, just not the server. Everytime I re-install it it just uses the same driver. They say there is no newer one. It won't even complete the reinstall anyway, it hangs.

bkrontz

You could share it off of the different computers... or try the parallel connection.

Jsmply

ASKER

Well no other computer is on all the time and reliable. The only thing in the error log is an error that says "the printer operation failed becaues a suitable drive could not be found" but I don't see how . . . it's using the same driver off the server.

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bkrontz

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Jsmply

ASKER

Done that. It keeps using the same driver it always has . . . with no luck.

Jsmply

ASKER

Now even stranger . . . I can print to it on the server without it crashing, BUT NOTHING COMES OUT AND THE JOB GOES NOWHERE? Does not show in the print window.

bkrontz

Server totally updated with Windows Updates and Manufacture firmware, bios and drivers? Basically anything that would make USB happier.

Otherwise... I found this...

http://www.kyocera.com.au/utilities.asp

Download the "Deleter" program and run it on any suspect server/workstation. It's a universal driver "clean-up" tool.

There's obviously a problem with either the driver of the printer or USB... I'm leaning towards the printer driver.

Jsmply

ASKER

I finally got this working. Basically what I had to do was keep trying generic Windows drivers till one worked. The latest driver on the canon website that said it was Vista compatible, XP compatible, and server 2003 compatible was NOT working. It was crashing clients and the print spooler on the server. It's been up and running for a few days now and I'm able to browser to the printer from the workstations again and just "right clikc and choose connect" so I think we are good for the time being. I think the biggest issue was I was trusting that driver from Canon's website and I really think it's not compatible as they say it is. A generic driver for that Canon series on the Windows 2003 installation seems to have us up and running again! Thanks!

Jsmply

ASKER

Thanks for the prompt help!

bkrontz

One thing we do with our giant Canon iR7105's is use the HP LaserJet 5si driver... It works and is faster than the Canon drivers. If you run into trouble, you may try using that driver as I believe it is generic. I'm glad to hear you are up!

Jsmply

ASKER

Thanks! I'm hoping we replace this Canon sooner than later. It's not even a network printer, it must connect via USB on the server. I'd like to replace it with a network compatible printer that has a built in print server.

bkrontz

If I remember right, that printer has an add in module for networking.

Jsmply

ASKER

Yes it does, you can clearly see where it would plug-in. However, it's several years old Would you recommend buying that now? I can't imagine an equievelant replacement would be that much? Do you by chance have any recommendations and ballparks for price?

bkrontz

It's really a matter of choice... if that printer has extra toner lying around, it may be a better investment to buy the NIC today and get through the toner. If you're at a point where you're about to buy supplies anyway, I'd go with another printer. I've been through a number of machines and I'm pretty sold on Brother. I've got varients of their 8000 series all over the place here for regular office stuff... MFC-8000's, DCP-8000's and also some colors in the 9000 series.

http://www.brother-usa.com/MFC/BW_Monochrome_Laser_Multifunction/

At any rate, they are pretty reliable and the support has been great in the one instance that something went bad... the replacement got here quick and at no cost.

Check the website and line up your needs based on the spec's. I think you'll be happy.

One other note, my Dell guy is always dying to give me free printers to "test" when I purchase big ticket items. If you think that's on the horizon, you may see if your pc/server vendor wants to help you out. While the Dell 3115cn has a huge footprint (manager's hate it), it's a pretty solid machine with a lot of features.

Jsmply

ASKER

I have another site running a Dell3115cn and they are happy with it. It's been very solid. What do you mean by large footprint? Do you mean size or expensive?

bkrontz

It's huge... The price was great (free). :)

Jsmply

ASKER

Ya it's definitely huge. I remember the other site I have that bought it almost sent it back because of the size, but now they love it!

That's a color laser though, our Canon is only black and white and that would be fine for this machine. We have a huge Sharp business class copier/printer for our color stuff.

bkrontz

Go with Brother if you're going to buy one.

Jsmply

ASKER

Small world, yesterday we were discussing it and today the Canon printer jammed up and bit the dust. I'm thinking about ordering this for a replacement. What do you think?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16828113433&nm_mc=OTC-Channel&cm_mmc=OTC-channel-_-Printer+-+Laser+Printers-_-Brother-_-28113433&srccode=cii_6579419&cpncode=19-3078142&DEPA=0&refer=channel&CMP=OTC-

bkrontz

Looks great to me... Provantage has it for $313... I order from them pretty often... fast and cheap.

http://www.provantage.com/brother-dcp-8080dn~7BRTB023.htm

Jsmply

ASKER

Awesome. I don't use Brother very often in the past, so I just wanted to make sure it's going to be a reliable model before I recommend it. Believe it or not, this Canon that just died has been a workhorse for several years getting hammered everyday with no hickups till now (and the driver issue . . . )

bkrontz

For the money, I can't think of a better solution... $313 is a silly price for what I've got out of them.