Homegroup Printer Sharing Fails error 0x000003e3

evhiii · 30 Apr 2012

We have an ASUS Zenbook U31F. We like it, but may have to return it because we cannot get it to print to our network printer on our HomeGroup. We have a Dell Studio 17 that prints to this computer with no problem.

When we attempt to print to the printer (HP OfficeJet 6100 Series), the ASUS computer downloads a driver from the server and then issues the message "Operation failed with error 0x000003e3."

Here are some things that I have tried.

1) Updating the HP printer driver

I cannot do this. Windows reports that the printer driver is included in Windows 7 and I do not need to update it (and I cannot update it - the OS will not allow me to.)

2) Attaching the printer directly to the ASUS ZenBook

ASUS ZenBook can print to the HP OfficeJet 6100 if it directly connected with a USB cable. This is not an acceptable solution: my wife needs to use the printer from anywhere in the house.

3) Registry Hack

I read about a registry hack to fool Windows into thinking that the printer is already connected. I did this and the printer appears in the Devices and Printer applet. Unfortunately, the first time I attempt to use the printer, the ASUS ZenBook downloads the printer driver and fails again.

ASUS and Best Buy have been completely useless. ASUS points the finger (I am not sure which finger) to HP. Best Buy wants me to pay an additional $70 for a support contract to get the computer that I bought from them to work.

The server is a home-built gaming system built on a Gigabyte motherboard - Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit, SP1, 6GB RAM, Intel i7 920 @ 2.66 GHz.

The laptop is an ASUS ZenBook U31F running Windows 7 Pro 64 bit.

Any help would be appreciated,
E. J.

PooMan UK · 30 Apr 2012

Hiya and welcome to the forums :)

Maybe look at an affordable USB print server takes allot of the headaches out of Network printing and it means you can print to the printer without having to set up printer sharing etc. (print server connects directly to the printer and router)

USB print servers These are in £ but I rekon you'll get a rough idea

You could even purchase a new all in one printer (with fax) and network ready for cheaper than the $70 support fee

HP Officejet 4500

Hope this helps pal

evhiii · 12 May 2012

After several false leads, I finally discovered the solution to the problem. The issue was permissions on the print spool directory. The fix is to give permissions to everyone to write this directory. You actually have to do it two ways: Windows Sharing and NTFS File Permissions. See the post by Drompa in [Solved] Adding network printer in Vista. - Vista-General-Discussion - Windows-Vista. I applied this fix and it worked right away. Well, almost right away. Windows asked me to select a printer driver and, after I did, told me that one was already installed and I should use that one. Typical.

I would expect HomeGroup printer sharing to address this issue automatically but, after, it is Windows:

5.1 versions
26 years
Still wrong...