Thank you for the reply,

My customer has never had a printer on this machine, and we reinstalled to try to clear this problem as a last resort as i have exhausted my skills.

The printers previously worked on other machines so we know the printers are ok, as I mentioned earlier, print test failed on all printers, all printers show and are set to their respective default + usb settings, all printers are recognized by vista when plugged in, so this in my mind rules out driver issues.

so basicaly I'm ruling out printer problem as this purely a Vista issue, even more since this a factory reset install.

there is no AV installed, firewalls are off, UAC is active but i will try without, I will also try with group policy service turned off.


Frank

'tis a very difficult problem. Do you have any of Vista computers to test with?

Two of the printers we used are from Vista installed pc's.

I was 100% sure the re-install would cure this, the only other option is for the customer to buy a version of vista, and install that, rather than use the bloated OEM install, but realistically I doubt it, as its still only a try and see fix,& that is expensive

It is very, very odd. I used to have massive problems with an old printer on Vista. The actual Vista drivers simply did not work. Eventually, after several months of fiddling, I discovered that the Vista and XP drivers did not work, but the older still "2000/XP" driver did. All I can really suggest is if you still have the Vista computers where it worked on, going into Device Manager > Printer > Properties > Driver Details, looking up the files, and seeing what version they are.

Try and find older version of the drivers to match, and see if that makes any difference. However, as it is a customers PC, that may not be feasible. Not an easy one.

thank you richc46

I will try the SFC, no harm there.

Ok, I've tried the SFC, and UAC off, GP service off, XP compatibility, and unfortunately this has changed nothing.

I think 'Clutching at straws' is the appropriate phrase to use now, I'm going to have to return this as a no fix no fee... Bummer not had one of these all year till now.

Thanks for all your ideas everyone, ideas are still welcome though till tomorrow morning when I'll return it minus my forty quid.

Frank