Vista - default printer doesn't stay as default

[Freddie Kang]

I have set up several printers and have one network printer assigned as
'default' printer. I have noticed that this 'default' status for this printer
does not remain so after I shut down and reboot. It seems to default to the
Fax printer. I then have to reset the chosen printer as 'default' in order to
print. This happens not everytime I shut down - sometimes the default printer
stays as default.

Anyone have similar experiences? Solution to the problem?
Thanks.

Best regards,
S.F. Kang

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

It will default to the first one it finds after logon, so in your case, I'm
thinking the logon to the network is taking longer, therefore it finds the
fax first.
--
Cari (MS-MVP)
Windows Technologies - Printing & Imaging
http://www.coribright.com/windows

"Freddie Kang" <Freddie [email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]

>I have set up several printers and have one network printer assigned as
> 'default' printer. I have noticed that this 'default' status for this
> printer
> does not remain so after I shut down and reboot. It seems to default to
> the
> Fax printer. I then have to reset the chosen printer as 'default' in order
> to
> print. This happens not everytime I shut down - sometimes the default
> printer
> stays as default.
>
> Anyone have similar experiences? Solution to the problem?
> Thanks.
>
> Best regards,
> S.F. Kang

 

[Freddie Kang]

Thanks for your info. Yes, the fax is first in line amongst the printers. Is
there a way I can make the default printer stay? Yes I do notice it doesn't
happen everytime, so it might happen when my system takes longer to logon to
the network. Can I rename the printer so it appears first on the list? Other
solutions? Thanks. Much appreciate your info.

br/freddie

"Cari (MS-MVP)" wrote:

> It will default to the first one it finds after logon, so in your case, I'm
> thinking the logon to the network is taking longer, therefore it finds the
> fax first.
> --
> Cari (MS-MVP)
> Windows Technologies - Printing & Imaging
> http://www.coribright.com/windows
>
> "Freddie Kang" <Freddie [email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]

> >I have set up several printers and have one network printer assigned as
> > 'default' printer. I have noticed that this 'default' status for this
> > printer
> > does not remain so after I shut down and reboot. It seems to default to
> > the
> > Fax printer. I then have to reset the chosen printer as 'default' in order
> > to
> > print. This happens not everytime I shut down - sometimes the default
> > printer
> > stays as default.
> >
> > Anyone have similar experiences? Solution to the problem?
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Best regards,
> > S.F. Kang

>
>

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

The only real solution would be to disable the fax printer which probably
isn't much use if you occasionally need it.
--
Cari (MS-MVP)
Windows Technologies - Printing & Imaging
http://www.coribright.com/windows

"Freddie Kang" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]

> Thanks for your info. Yes, the fax is first in line amongst the printers.
> Is
> there a way I can make the default printer stay? Yes I do notice it
> doesn't
> happen everytime, so it might happen when my system takes longer to logon
> to
> the network. Can I rename the printer so it appears first on the list?
> Other
> solutions? Thanks. Much appreciate your info.
>
> br/freddie
>
> "Cari (MS-MVP)" wrote:
>

>> It will default to the first one it finds after logon, so in your case,
>> I'm
>> thinking the logon to the network is taking longer, therefore it finds
>> the
>> fax first.
>> --
>> Cari (MS-MVP)
>> Windows Technologies - Printing & Imaging
>> http://www.coribright.com/windows
>>
>> "Freddie Kang" <Freddie [email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]

>> >I have set up several printers and have one network printer assigned as
>> > 'default' printer. I have noticed that this 'default' status for this
>> > printer
>> > does not remain so after I shut down and reboot. It seems to default to
>> > the
>> > Fax printer. I then have to reset the chosen printer as 'default' in
>> > order
>> > to
>> > print. This happens not everytime I shut down - sometimes the default
>> > printer
>> > stays as default.
>> >
>> > Anyone have similar experiences? Solution to the problem?
>> > Thanks.
>> >
>> > Best regards,
>> > S.F. Kang

>>
>>

 

[Atrox]

I am having this same problem. This was not an issue in Windows XP- when you
selected a default printer it stayed the default printer. Did you ever find
a solution to this problem in Windows Vista?
Thanks!

 

[Matthew Kitchin]

Same problem here. It was defaulting to a fax printer, so I deleted that. Now
it goes to Microsoft Docuemnt image writer. This is a very annoying problem
that is new in Vista.

"Freddie Kang" wrote:

> I have set up several printers and have one network printer assigned as
> 'default' printer. I have noticed that this 'default' status for this printer
> does not remain so after I shut down and reboot. It seems to default to the
> Fax printer. I then have to reset the chosen printer as 'default' in order to
> print. This happens not everytime I shut down - sometimes the default printer
> stays as default.
>
> Anyone have similar experiences? Solution to the problem?
> Thanks.
>
> Best regards,
> S.F. Kang

 

[LambChop]

Do you have any issues printing to the printer that you want to be the
default? Do you have outlook and if so can you print out of outlook to the
printer that will not stay the default? Is the printer that will not stay
the default a networked printer or a locally attached printer?

My History with this issue (or what I beleive is the same issue you're
having.):
I'm having an issue and it has to do with Office products and vista. Office
products can't print to a networked printer. I've moved the que's to a 2008
server and that fixed 99% of my issues but I still have one that can't ever
print toe the 2008 que's.

 

[Geekeezer]

I am having the "Can't set a default printer problem" as well. It comes into play with me, not on a network, but all the time. The major issue, as I saw posted somewhere else here, is with programs like Adobe Reader (Acrobat) that only print to a default printer. In other words I can't print PDFs. That is a real PITA as I
am a REALTOR and PDFs are my WORLD. I did see an answer by "Alan" that mentioned some "HKEY-BLAH BLAH BLAH," But there was no info about what to do with it. I am not a registry savvy guy. Its a new machine and the manufacturer was no help either! This has been going on for several months. Should I just go buy an Apple?

 

[TexasTbird]

I had this same problem and realized that it is caused when I RDP into my vista box. This is due to new RDP 6.1 client default behavior. You get RDP 6.1 with Vista SP1. A simple workaround is to uncheck the "Printers" box in the RDP client options under "RDP -> Options -> Local Resources"

 

[brbgtgp]

Changing a User's Default Printer in the Registry
See Article ID: 156212

HKCU \Software \Microsoft \Windows NT \CurrentVersion \Windows

Device Reg_SZ Data (here you make the device changes.)

Note: You will see the Devices folder under the CurrentVersion with the list
of printer devices installed, their spooler and connection type.




"Geekeezer" wrote:

>
> I am having the "Can't set a default printer problem" as well. It comes
> into play with me, not on a network, but all the time. The major issue,
> as I saw posted somewhere else here, is with programs like Adobe Reader
> (Acrobat) that only print to a default printer. In other words I can't
> print PDFs. That is a real PITA as I
> am a REALTOR and PDFs are my WORLD. I did see an answer by "Alan" that
> mentioned some "HKEY-BLAH BLAH BLAH," But there was no info about what
> to do with it. I am not a registry savvy guy. Its a new machine and the
> manufacturer was no help either! This has been going on for several
> months. Should I just go buy an Apple?
>
>
> --
> Geekeezer
>

 

[brbgtgp]

"brbgtgp" wrote:

> Changing a User's Default Printer in the Registry
> See Article ID: 156212
>
> HKCU \Software \Microsoft \Windows NT \CurrentVersion \Windows
>
> Device Reg_SZ Data (here you make the device changes.)
>
> Note: You will see the Devices folder under the CurrentVersion with the list
> of printer devices installed, their spooler and connection type.
>
>
>
>
> "Geekeezer" wrote:
>

> >
> > I am having the "Can't set a default printer problem" as well. It comes
> > into play with me, not on a network, but all the time. The major issue,
> > as I saw posted somewhere else here, is with programs like Adobe Reader
> > (Acrobat) that only print to a default printer. In other words I can't
> > print PDFs. That is a real PITA as I
> > am a REALTOR and PDFs are my WORLD. I did see an answer by "Alan" that
> > mentioned some "HKEY-BLAH BLAH BLAH," But there was no info about what
> > to do with it. I am not a registry savvy guy. Its a new machine and the
> > manufacturer was no help either! This has been going on for several
> > months. Should I just go buy an Apple?
> >
> >
> > --
> > Geekeezer
> >

So I encountered same thing today, unable to print acrobat reader.

There are a few things you should look for... This applies from win2K until
vista
HKCU\Software\Microsoft \Windows NT \Current Version \Windows

If you do not have the Windows key, borrow from a friend.
Right-click then Export the key...
Go to original workstation then double-click on printer.reg this will apply
the tree into the hive.

or Copy below into a notepad.exe and rename printer.reg
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows]
"DebugOptions"="2048"
"Documents"=""
"DosPrint"="no"
"Load"=""
"NetMessage"="no"
"NullPort"="None"
"Programs"="com exe bat pif cmd"
"device"="Any printer name1,winspool,Ne01:"

OK. So let's move on to changing values. Let's look into Devices or
PrinterPorts
Verify your device listed.

example
Any printer name4 REG_SZ winspool, Ne03;
Any printer name3 REG_SZ winspool, Ne02;
Any printer name2 REG_SZ winspool, Ne01;
Any printer name1 REG_SZ winspool, Ne00;

In the windows key, right-click "device" then modify...
in Value data field, enter below
Any printer name1,winspool,Ne01:

Where it says "any printer name1" look into your system devices and pick one
that applies to you. (please do not stick your head inside the computer.)

ALT+F4 to close

 

[sephoratrading]

I had this same problem and realized that it is caused when I RDP into my vista box. This is due to new RDP 6.1 client default behavior. You get RDP 6.1 with Vista SP1. A simple workaround is to uncheck the "Printers" box in the RDP client options under "RDP -> Options -> Local Resources"

I had the same problem as TexasTbird. I suspected it was the remote desktop connection I just never looked into it until now. I remoted in to my home machine from my laptop and it removed the default printer setting from my home machine. I am assuming that unchecking the "Printers" box under the Local Resources tab for the extended options should do the trick.

It is most likely setting the default printer for the remote machine to the default printer on the remoting machine, but doesn't seem to return the default printer setting when you log off. This might not be your problem but it could help others.

As for Cari's responses, I do not believe Windows Vista will automatically select a default printer on boot. If one was not already selected for some reason you will just not have a default and you will need to specify a printer manually. This may cause some programs to not be able to print until you pick a default printer. There is no reason that the default printer should change every time Vista loads though she speaks as if it is intended functionality. I would say reinstall all your printers and set the default again. Also keep an eye on installed programs that may be resetting the default for you as part of their boot check. Perhaps the drivers for the fax machine, or a software utility or suite that came with the fax machine has a "feature" to automatically set it to default.

 

[Fred Hof]

"Freddie Kang" wrote:

> I have set up several printers and have one network printer assigned as
> 'default' printer. I have noticed that this 'default' status for this printer
> does not remain so after I shut down and reboot. It seems to default to the
> Fax printer. I then have to reset the chosen printer as 'default' in order to
> print. This happens not everytime I shut down - sometimes the default printer
> stays as default.
>
> Anyone have similar experiences? Solution to the problem?
> Thanks.
>
> Best regards,
> S.F. Kang

S.F.,

I had a similar problem with 3 client machines. Long story short: it was a
corrupt NTuser.DAT file which we renamed .old and replaced with the
ntuser.dat file from the default user folder. This was a pain in that the
profile had to be setup from scratch again but at least default remains
default at the end of the day. Anyway, this was my experience after working
the issue w/ MS support for 10+ hours. If anyone has found a better fix I'd
be much obliged.

 

[altertek]

Sometimes when you install a network printer it will not register a IP port in the server config on your machine. What you will have to do is go to the printer setup page and anywhere on the screen right click and select server properties. Then go to ports and select add new port, make sure you select add an IP port and then type in the IP address of the printers location. After the setup of the port you should be able to change the selected printer to default and it will not change. This is for network printers only.

 

[William McFarland]

My network printer has an IP Port yet the default printer still changes from
this printer to the fax on re-boot. Deleting the fax printer causes the
default to change to Microsoft Document imaging. Is anyone aware of another
work around or solution?

"altertek" wrote:

>
> Sometimes when you install a network printer it will not register a IP
> port in the server config on your machine. What you will have to do is
> go to the printer setup page and anywhere on the screen right click and
> select server properties. Then go to ports and select add new port, make
> sure you select add an IP port and then type in the IP address of the
> printers location. After the setup of the port you should be able to
> change the selected printer to default and it will not change. This is
> for network printers only.
>
>
> --
> altertek
> .
>

 

[William McFarland]

Wa a solution for this problem every posted?

"Freddie Kang" wrote:

> I have set up several printers and have one network printer assigned as
> 'default' printer. I have noticed that this 'default' status for this printer
> does not remain so after I shut down and reboot. It seems to default to the
> Fax printer. I then have to reset the chosen printer as 'default' in order to
> print. This happens not everytime I shut down - sometimes the default printer
> stays as default.
>
> Anyone have similar experiences? Solution to the problem?
> Thanks.
>
> Best regards,
> S.F. Kang