Windows Vista Forums

Win98 printer share is perpetually offline after rebooting Vista
  1. #1


    SlickRCBD Guest

    Win98 printer share is perpetually offline after rebooting Vista

    For years, I've had an HP DeskJet 812C connected to the parallel port
    on my Win98SE computer. The printer is shared, and I've had no
    problems printing from Windows XP.

    Enter Windows Vista. I set up Vista to use client-side rendering by
    adding a local printer and having it point to the port for the
    printer. Everything works fine when I set it up, until I reboot the
    Vista computer. When that happens, Vista lists the printer as
    "offline" and NOTHING I do will allow it to print again. The only
    thing I can do is add another printer, have it point to the same port,
    and delete the old printer.

    How do I fix this problem, or alternately, how do work around the
    problem by making a script to automatically add a local printer set to
    print to the shared port on bootup and delete it on shutdown? I have
    no idea how to make such a script or if it is even possible.

    I'm using Vista 64-bit home premium.

    I should mention that this is definitely a Vista problem, because I
    have Virtual PC installed on that same computer to run Windows XP Pro
    (32-bit) and the virtual machine on the same hardware with the
    troublesome Vista as the host OS has absolutely NO problem with the
    printer or file shares as far as the Win98SE computer is concerned.
    As a consequence I'm resorting to doing all my Office Suite work with
    Virtual PC as I don't want the hassle of forgetting to reinstall the
    damn printer every time I want to print.



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  2. #2


    Tae Song Guest

    Re: Win98 printer share is perpetually offline after rebooting Vista


    "SlickRCBD" <slickrcbdnews@newsgroup> wrote in message
    news:74c67c5c-bd31-477c-bb8d-3c0e4055bd37@newsgroup

    > For years, I've had an HP DeskJet 812C connected to the parallel port
    > on my Win98SE computer. The printer is shared, and I've had no
    > problems printing from Windows XP.
    >
    > Enter Windows Vista. I set up Vista to use client-side rendering by
    > adding a local printer and having it point to the port for the
    > printer. Everything works fine when I set it up, until I reboot the
    > Vista computer. When that happens, Vista lists the printer as
    > "offline" and NOTHING I do will allow it to print again. The only
    > thing I can do is add another printer, have it point to the same port,
    > and delete the old printer.
    >
    > How do I fix this problem, or alternately, how do work around the
    > problem by making a script to automatically add a local printer set to
    > print to the shared port on bootup and delete it on shutdown? I have
    > no idea how to make such a script or if it is even possible.
    >
    > I'm using Vista 64-bit home premium.
    >
    > I should mention that this is definitely a Vista problem, because I
    > have Virtual PC installed on that same computer to run Windows XP Pro
    > (32-bit) and the virtual machine on the same hardware with the
    > troublesome Vista as the host OS has absolutely NO problem with the
    > printer or file shares as far as the Win98SE computer is concerned.
    > As a consequence I'm resorting to doing all my Office Suite work with
    > Virtual PC as I don't want the hassle of forgetting to reinstall the
    > damn printer every time I want to print.

    Although it doesn't say specifically Vista, the command is available...

    How to add printers with no user interaction in Windows
    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q189105/

    More extensive list of printui.dll commands
    http://www.robvanderwoude.com/2kprintcontrol.php

    To delete network printer

    rundll32 printui.dll,printuientry /dn /n"\\user-pc\HP DeskJet 812C"


    To add network printer

    rundll32 printui.dll,printuientry /in /q /n"\\user-pc\HP DeskJet 812C"


    I only played with it a little bit. Add network printer maybe missing port
    information. I couldn't quite get it to work, but it should get you
    started.

    Let me know how you get it to work.


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  3. #3


    SlickRCBD Guest

    Re: Win98 printer share is perpetually offline after rebooting Vista

    On Oct 11, 6:32*am, "Tae Song" <tae_s...@newsgroup> wrote:

    > "SlickRCBD" <slickrcbdn...@newsgroup> wrote in message
    >
    > news:74c67c5c-bd31-477c-bb8d-3c0e4055bd37@newsgroup
    >
    >
    >

    > > For years, I've had an HP DeskJet 812C connected to the parallel port
    > > on my Win98SE computer. The printer is shared, and I've had no
    > > problems printing from Windows XP.
    >

    > > Enter Windows Vista. I set up Vista to use client-side rendering by
    > > adding a local printer and having it point to the port for the
    > > printer. Everything works fine when I set it up, until I reboot the
    > > Vista computer. When that happens, Vista lists the printer as
    > > "offline" and NOTHING I do will allow it to print again. The only
    > > thing I can do is add another printer, have it point to the same port,
    > > and delete the old printer.
    >

    > > How do I fix this problem, or alternately, how do work around the
    > > problem by making a script to automatically add a local printer set to
    > > print to the shared port on bootup and delete it on shutdown? *I have
    > > no idea how to make such a script or if it is even possible.
    >

    > > I'm using Vista 64-bit home premium.
    >

    > > I should mention that this is definitely a Vista problem, because I
    > > have Virtual PC installed on that same computer to run Windows XP Pro
    > > (32-bit) and the virtual machine on the same hardware with the
    > > troublesome Vista as the host OS has absolutely NO problem with the
    > > printer or file shares as far as the Win98SE computer is concerned.
    > > As a consequence I'm resorting to doing all my Office Suite work with
    > > Virtual PC as I don't want the hassle of forgetting to reinstall the
    > > damn printer every time I want to print.
    >
    > Although it doesn't say specifically Vista, the command is available...
    >
    > How to add printers with no user interaction in Windowshttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/q189105/
    >
    > More extensive list of printui.dll commandshttp://www.robvanderwoude.com/2kprintcontrol.php
    >
    > To delete network printer
    >
    > rundll32 printui.dll,printuientry /dn /n"\\user-pc\HP DeskJet 812C"
    >
    > To add network printer
    >
    > rundll32 printui.dll,printuientry /in /q /n"\\user-pc\HP DeskJet 812C"
    >
    > I only played with it a little bit. *Add network printer maybe missing port
    > information. *I couldn't quite get it to work, but it should get you
    > started.
    >
    > Let me know how you get it to work.
    Ok, I got the add printer part to work so far.
    The Vista computer is named Gateway, which reflects the brand rather
    than it being used as an internet gateway.
    The Win98SE computer is named Slickswintel, which reflects my attitude
    at the time being forced to ditch my Mac in favor of a Wintel because
    I needed to run Visual Studio 6 and Excel for school.

    The printer is shared as hp812c and hp812g, one for color & one for
    B&W.
    Here's how I got the command to work:
    rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /if /b "HP DeskJet 812C" /c\
    \GATEWAY /f "%windir%inf\ntprint.inf" /r "\\slickswintel\hp812c" /m
    "HP DeskJet 812C"

    I'm going to try seeing if sticking it in my startup folder will make
    me able to printer after I shut down and turn the computers back on.
    The only problem I can see is if I don't have the win98 machine booted
    up when I turn the Vista comptuer on, since oddly enough Vista tends
    to boot slightly faster.

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  4. #4


    Tae Song Guest

    Re: Win98 printer share is perpetually offline after rebooting Vista


    "SlickRCBD" <slickrcbdnews@newsgroup> wrote in message
    news:3592479b-2ce0-45b8-a747-9b5859c3be7a@newsgroup

    > On Oct 11, 6:32 am, "Tae Song" <tae_s...@newsgroup> wrote:

    >> "SlickRCBD" <slickrcbdn...@newsgroup> wrote in message
    >>
    >> news:74c67c5c-bd31-477c-bb8d-3c0e4055bd37@newsgroup
    >>
    >>
    >>

    >> > For years, I've had an HP DeskJet 812C connected to the parallel port
    >> > on my Win98SE computer. The printer is shared, and I've had no
    >> > problems printing from Windows XP.
    >>

    >> > Enter Windows Vista. I set up Vista to use client-side rendering by
    >> > adding a local printer and having it point to the port for the
    >> > printer. Everything works fine when I set it up, until I reboot the
    >> > Vista computer. When that happens, Vista lists the printer as
    >> > "offline" and NOTHING I do will allow it to print again. The only
    >> > thing I can do is add another printer, have it point to the same port,
    >> > and delete the old printer.
    >>

    >> > How do I fix this problem, or alternately, how do work around the
    >> > problem by making a script to automatically add a local printer set to
    >> > print to the shared port on bootup and delete it on shutdown? I have
    >> > no idea how to make such a script or if it is even possible.
    >>

    >> > I'm using Vista 64-bit home premium.
    >>

    >> > I should mention that this is definitely a Vista problem, because I
    >> > have Virtual PC installed on that same computer to run Windows XP Pro
    >> > (32-bit) and the virtual machine on the same hardware with the
    >> > troublesome Vista as the host OS has absolutely NO problem with the
    >> > printer or file shares as far as the Win98SE computer is concerned.
    >> > As a consequence I'm resorting to doing all my Office Suite work with
    >> > Virtual PC as I don't want the hassle of forgetting to reinstall the
    >> > damn printer every time I want to print.
    >>
    >> Although it doesn't say specifically Vista, the command is available...
    >>
    >> How to add printers with no user interaction in
    >> Windowshttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/q189105/
    >>
    >> More extensive list of printui.dll
    >> commandshttp://www.robvanderwoude.com/2kprintcontrol.php
    >>
    >> To delete network printer
    >>
    >> rundll32 printui.dll,printuientry /dn /n"\\user-pc\HP DeskJet 812C"
    >>
    >> To add network printer
    >>
    >> rundll32 printui.dll,printuientry /in /q /n"\\user-pc\HP DeskJet 812C"
    >>
    >> I only played with it a little bit. Add network printer maybe missing
    >> port
    >> information. I couldn't quite get it to work, but it should get you
    >> started.
    >>
    >> Let me know how you get it to work.
    >
    > Ok, I got the add printer part to work so far.
    > The Vista computer is named Gateway, which reflects the brand rather
    > than it being used as an internet gateway.
    > The Win98SE computer is named Slickswintel, which reflects my attitude
    > at the time being forced to ditch my Mac in favor of a Wintel because
    > I needed to run Visual Studio 6 and Excel for school.
    >
    > The printer is shared as hp812c and hp812g, one for color & one for
    > B&W.
    > Here's how I got the command to work:
    > rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /if /b "HP DeskJet 812C" /c\
    > \GATEWAY /f "%windir%inf\ntprint.inf" /r "\\slickswintel\hp812c" /m
    > "HP DeskJet 812C"
    >
    > I'm going to try seeing if sticking it in my startup folder will make
    > me able to printer after I shut down and turn the computers back on.
    > The only problem I can see is if I don't have the win98 machine booted
    > up when I turn the Vista comptuer on, since oddly enough Vista tends
    > to boot slightly faster.
    Cool, thanks!


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  5. #5


    SlickRCBD Guest

    Re: Win98 printer share is perpetually offline after rebooting Vista

    On Oct 12, 8:40*am, "Tae Song" <tae_s...@newsgroup> wrote:

    > "SlickRCBD" <slickrcbdn...@newsgroup> wrote in message
    >
    > news:3592479b-2ce0-45b8-a747-9b5859c3be7a@newsgroup
    >
    >
    >

    > > On Oct 11, 6:32 am, "Tae Song" <tae_s...@newsgroup> wrote:

    > >> "SlickRCBD" <slickrcbdn...@newsgroup> wrote in message
    >

    > >>news:74c67c5c-bd31-477c-bb8d-3c0e4055bd37@newsgroup
    >

    > >> > For years, I've had an HP DeskJet 812C connected to the parallel port
    > >> > on my Win98SE computer. The printer is shared, and I've had no
    > >> > problems printing from Windows XP.
    >

    > >> > Enter Windows Vista. I set up Vista to use client-side rendering by
    > >> > adding a local printer and having it point to the port for the
    > >> > printer. Everything works fine when I set it up, until I reboot the
    > >> > Vista computer. When that happens, Vista lists the printer as
    > >> > "offline" and NOTHING I do will allow it to print again. The only
    > >> > thing I can do is add another printer, have it point to the same port,
    > >> > and delete the old printer.
    >

    > >> > How do I fix this problem, or alternately, how do work around the
    > >> > problem by making a script to automatically add a local printer set to
    > >> > print to the shared port on bootup and delete it on shutdown? *I have
    > >> > no idea how to make such a script or if it is even possible.
    >

    > >> > I'm using Vista 64-bit home premium.
    >

    > >> > I should mention that this is definitely a Vista problem, because I
    > >> > have Virtual PC installed on that same computer to run Windows XP Pro
    > >> > (32-bit) and the virtual machine on the same hardware with the
    > >> > troublesome Vista as the host OS has absolutely NO problem with the
    > >> > printer or file shares as far as the Win98SE computer is concerned.
    > >> > As a consequence I'm resorting to doing all my Office Suite work with
    > >> > Virtual PC as I don't want the hassle of forgetting to reinstall the
    > >> > damn printer every time I want to print.
    >

    > >> Although it doesn't say specifically Vista, the command is available....
    >

    > >> How to add printers with no user interaction in
    > >> Windowshttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/q189105/
    >

    > >> More extensive list of printui.dll
    > >> commandshttp://www.robvanderwoude.com/2kprintcontrol.php
    >

    > >> To delete network printer
    >

    > >> rundll32 printui.dll,printuientry /dn /n"\\user-pc\HP DeskJet 812C"
    >

    > >> To add network printer
    >

    > >> rundll32 printui.dll,printuientry /in /q /n"\\user-pc\HP DeskJet 812C"
    >

    > >> I only played with it a little bit. *Add network printer maybe missing
    > >> port
    > >> information. *I couldn't quite get it to work, but it should get you
    > >> started.
    >

    > >> Let me know how you get it to work.
    >

    > > Ok, I got the add printer part to work so far.
    > > The Vista computer is named Gateway, which reflects the brand rather
    > > than it being used as an internet gateway.
    > > The Win98SE computer is named Slickswintel, which reflects my attitude
    > > at the time being forced to ditch my Mac in favor of a Wintel because
    > > I needed to run Visual Studio 6 and Excel for school.
    >

    > > The printer is shared as hp812c and hp812g, one for color & one for
    > > B&W.
    > > Here's how I got the command to work:
    > > rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /if /b "HP DeskJet 812C" /c\
    > > \GATEWAY /f "%windir%inf\ntprint.inf" /r "\\slickswintel\hp812c" /m
    > > "HP DeskJet 812C"
    >

    > > I'm going to try seeing if sticking it in my startup folder will make
    > > me able to printer after I shut down and turn the computers back on.
    > > The only problem I can see is if I don't have the win98 machine booted
    > > up when I turn the Vista comptuer on, since oddly enough Vista tends
    > > to boot slightly faster.
    >
    > Cool, thanks!
    Here's the final version of the batch file. The Win98 computer is
    named Slickswintel, the Vista computer is gateway because I found that
    slicksgateway was too long and causing problems, and the printer is
    shared as hp812c. The local driver used is called HP DeskJet 812C".

    Here's a question, what is the "proper" way to stick things in the
    startup folder for all users under Vista Home Premium? I had a hard
    time finding the correct folder and it seems I was doing things the
    hard way and UAC went nuts asking me to confirm about 5 times. I miss
    the "start menu programs" option under Windows 98.

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  6. #6


    SlickRCBD Guest

    Re: Win98 printer share is perpetually offline after rebooting Vista

    On Oct 15, 12:31*am, SlickRCBD <slickrcbdn...@newsgroup> wrote:

    >
    >
    > Here's the final version of the batch file. The Win98 computer is
    > named Slickswintel, the Vista computer is gateway because I found that
    > slicksgateway was too long and causing problems, and the printer is
    > shared as hp812c. The local driver used is called HP DeskJet 812C".
    >
    > Here's a question, what is the "proper" way to stick things in the
    > startup folder for all users under Vista Home Premium? I had a hard
    > time finding the correct folder and it seems I was doing things the
    > hard way and UAC went nuts asking me to confirm about 5 times. I miss
    > the "start menu programs" option under Windows 98.
    I don't know why the paste-in didn't show up. It is only two lines.
    I'll try again. Sorry I took so long, I don't normally read my own
    posts.
    rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /dl /n "hp812c" /c\\GATEWAY
    rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /if /b "HP812c" /c\\GATEWAY /f
    "%windir%\inf\ntprint.inf" /r "\\Slickswintel\hp812c" /m "HP DeskJet
    812C"

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

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