Stop W7 From Creating Multiple Printers?

Hey Folks,

Using W7-Ultimate 64 on an Acer 4530 laptop. This is a personal machine and is not networked except via wifi to my router, and via BT to a single printer. I leave the printer and BT off unless I have to print something, as I don't print daily.

Problem: When I go to print a Word doc (for example) there are multiple instances of printers named like this:

Canon Printer
Canon Printer (Copy 1)
Canon Printer (Copy 2)

Many times I have gone into Printer & Devices and removed all instances of the Copies, making the "Canon Printer" entry the only one, and set as default... but the next time I go to print (which might be a week later), I have multiple instances again.

My question is: How can I stop W7 from creating copies of my printer profile?

Thanks for any help.

That usually happens with network printers when the port changes, or local printers, when they are moved to another USB port. I've never used Bluetooth to connect a printer (I avoid BT on my computers), so I can't say for sure, but it sounds like that's what's happening. Something in the BT settings is changing, making your computer think it is a new printer.

Thanks, DeaconFrost. I have read that but I use the same USB port for the BT adapter.

Also, a neighbor has the same problem and she has W7 on an HP laptop, and a Canon printer with built-in Wifi, so she connects via that, and there is no USB port involved. But I suppose you mean it uses a different com port. (I am not network literate as I never had reason to set one up.)

I'll see if I can start with my own issue and research BT settings more.

Yes, the computer creates printer ports for each printer, and simple changes can make the computer think it is a new printer, such as moving a USB cable to another port, a change in IP (network) address for a network printer like your neighbor's, etc. The drivers and software are installed, so you don't always get prompted for anything to install, but it thinks that you have another of the same printer connected. I am sure BT uses some kind of comm port or network port, so if it is changing somehow, your computer will see Copy 1, Copy 2, etc.

You could look in the properties of each of those copies, under Ports, and see if they are listing different ports.

That's an excellent suggestion, checking ports under Properties... unfortunately I already deleted all instances of the printer, reinstalled it along with the driver, and have only the single default entry now. I did that last night and just turned on the printer, then plugged in my BT adapter, and the printer profile remained unchanged, so ... so far so good...

After the holidays when I help my neighbor again with her Wifi'd printer setup, I will look at the ports on her machine... and if mine starts doing that again, I will check that right away.

Thanks again for your help.

You're welcome, although I'm not sure how helpful I was! That's probably my best suggestion, since I'm not familiar with using Bluetooth for printers. Something in the properties has to be different between those instances.

Good luck!

DeaconFrost: You were very helpful as you gave me a line of inquiry to follow in the future when this happens again to determine what the difference is between the profiles so I can address/eliminate that factor, if possible, to prevent this. I hadn't thought of comparing Properties, assuming they were alike, given that W7 named them "(Copy 1)" and "(Copy 2)".... But now I have a line on what I can do, or at least where to start....

Have a great Winter Solstice!