Vista - Cannot set network printer as the default

Vista Business does not allow me to set any of our 5 network printers as the
default printer. I am a member of the administrative group. I can choose
one of the network printers as a printer in most programs when I print but,
in Excel, only the local printers (microsoft fax and adobe acrobat) show up
as choices and it still won't allow me to set a network printer as a default.
We have 10 other Vista machines on our network and this does not happen.
Any ideas?

I have a similar issue.

-Running Vista Ultimate 32 Bit
-Adobe Acrobat PDF Printer (local)
-HP 4000 TN LaserJet Printer (networked)
-HP 4250 DTN LaserJet Printer (networked)
-HP 450C DesignJet Plotter (networked)

I can set any local printer as the default anytime, no problems.
I cannot set a networked printer as the default under certain circumstances:
1. if I have just added the printers to my computer I can set them as default, and switch between them
2. if I reboot, or the Print Spooler Service restarts I cannot set them to default. There is no error message-it just doesn't work. The work around is to delete all the network printers and add them AGAIN.

So either I would like a way to automatically add my printers on startup every time I sign in at work, or, I would like a fix for this very perplexing problem. The latter would be preferred.

Thanks for your time!

I have the very same issue.