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General discussion

network printer problems

Jul 31, 2007 12:53PM PDT

I am unable to print from a Vista basic machine. Here's my setup.
Computer 1: Running XP (that's the machine the printer is hooked up to.) Computer 2 running Vista premium I am able to print from this computer. Computer 3; Vista basic. This is my problem machine. I was able to get computer 2 to access the printer by "adding a local printer and assigning a port name. Worked just fine. Now I tried this on computer 3 and it did not work. It went through the process of adding a printer, but it would not print. I deleted the printer to try it again and this is when my troubles began. When I try to install a local printer, it says that port already exists. But the printer is deleted. I don't know how to work around this. I assume I need to delete the port, but I don't know how. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Add a network printer
Aug 3, 2007 1:06AM PDT

Have you tried to install the printer as a network one? It would seem that on some Vista installs you have to set it up as a local printer even tho it really is a network printer.

The reason why you would get already is a port is because even tho you delete the printer that was using this port the port would remain by default.

My steps for doing a local port were done by going to Control Panel, Printers, Add a Printer then Add a Local Printer, Click Create a new port, leave the default local port, Click Next, a box will come up type in the actual address of the network printer, \\computername\printername - next will ask to install drivers, leave it shared and print a test page.

Northlite

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Thanks
Aug 3, 2007 2:29AM PDT

Problem solved. I did a system restore. I restored the computer to the previous day. Then I was able to install the printer as a local printer. It was strange though. I had to use the "add new hardware" option to install the printer because that was the only place my printer showed upin the list. It would not show up, by going to the Control panel, then choosing printers. Go figure, Anyway, thanks for your help.