Shared Printing Issues in a Microsoft Windows 2000 or Windows XP

Troubleshooting Shared Printing Issues in a Microsoft Windows 2000 or Windows XP Environment

• ISSUE

When printing to a shared HP Color or Monochrome LaserJet series printer connected via parallel cable to a host PC in a Microsoft Windows 2000 or Windows XP environment, jobs sent from a client PC will not successfully print or will print garbage text or PJL commands.

Typically, print jobs sent from the printer driver do not complete or spool properly. Print jobs sent, using an alternative printer driver, will print garbage text or PJL commands. Jobs sent from the host PC print successfully with no issues.

WORKAROUND

There is currently no solution to this issue. The following two workarounds may enable successful printing to the HP Color LaserJet 2500 or to the HP LaserJet 3300 series printer from client PCs in the shared environment:

NOTE: The directions below are applicable in Windows XP if in the Classic View.

Workaround 1: Disable bidirectional printing

1. From the Windows desktop, click Start, Settings, and then Printers.

2. Right-click the HP LaserJet 3300 series printer driver icon; select Properties.

3. Click to open the Ports tab. Uncheck the box for Enable bid-directional support.

4. Click Apply and then click OK to exit the driver.

5. Test print from the client PCs.

6. If the printing is unsuccessful, try Workaround 2.

Workaround 2: Configure client PCs to an lpt port

1. Click here to download the latest software and drivers from the HP web site http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/eng/software_drivers.htm

2. Install the driver onto the Host PC. The Host PC connection can either be configured to the DOT4 or LPT1 port.

CAUTION: Issues with configuring the driver to an lpt port have been identified. This workaround is not guaranteed to resolve all issues, but to provide an alternative that may work.

3. Test print from the Host PC to verify functionality.

4. Share the driver.

5. Install the driver on the remote PC. The remote PC connection must be configured to the LPT1 port.

CAUTION: Issues with configuring the driver to an lpt port have been identified. This workaround is not guaranteed to resolve all issues, but to provide an alternative that may work.

6. Test print from the remote PC.

7. If the remote PC still will not print, move the LaserJet Director out of the start up folder on the host PC following these steps:

• From the Windows desktop, click Start and then Run.

• Type msconfig in the dialog box, and then click OK.

• Click to open the Startup tab.

• Under the heading Startup Item, remove the check from the HP LaserJet Director.

• Click Apply, then OK.

• Restart the host PC and test print from both PCs. If unable to print from the client PCs still, try Workaround 3.

Workaround 3: Install an alternate HP LaserJet 1200 printer driver on the host PC

1. From the Windows desktop, click Start, Settings, and then Printers.

2. Click the Add a Printer icon.

3. Click Next after the Welcome screen appears.

4. Select Local Printer, and then disable the option Automatically detect and install my plug and play printer. Click Next.

5. In the Ports screen, select the appropriate port for which the printer is configured. Click Next.

6. Select HP as the manufacture and the HP LaserJet 1200 series PCL for the printer. Click Next.

7. Select Replace the existing driver. Click Next.

8. Select Yes to set the HP LaserJet 1200 driver as the default driver. Click Next.

9. Share the printer, using a name less than 12 characters in length. Click Next.

10. Add location and comments if desired. Click Next.

11. Click Yes to print a test page from the host PC. Click Next.

12. Click Finish. If the test page prints from the Host PC, try printing from the local PCs.

NOTE: Printing to the HP LaserJet is the only supported function in a shared printing environment; scanning and faxing are not supported. To configure a peer-to-peer network, it may be necessary to have administrator privileges on all PCs. For support on configuring a peer-to-peer network, click here to refer to www.Microsoft.com for additional support .

NOTE: The workarounds identified in this document may or may not work for all shared printing environments. HP recommends using the appropriate HP Jetdirect networking solution to achieve full printer driver functionality in a network environment. If the solution in this document does not work, click here to refer to www.Microsoft.com for peer-to-peer network support .
Back To The Top

Bud's CDs FREE MP3s     Alphabetical Index Of Everything In This Site