Remote Desktop Not Working with Local Printer

I am having trouble using a locally networked printer when I use Remote Desktop to connect to a Vista machine. Under the local resources tab for RD, I have checked printers. The only thing I can figure is that my printer is networked locally, not connected directly to my machine. Every time I try to print during my remote desktop session, I can't access my locally networked printer.

I installed the printer drivers on the remote computer and when I try to locate the printer, I get the following error: "Windows cannot connect to the printer. Server print spooler service is not running..." but the spooler service IS runing.

I also tried to plug in my printer to a local USB port this morning. Still would not work. I keep getting the same spooling error. The drivers are not corrupt, as others have indicated may be the cause. They work fine on my system locally with 7.

I also found a post elsewhere that discussed setting 'share permissions' and 'network permissons' to resovle the spooler error. Still no go.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I've spent a few hours on this one and am at a loss at this point.

Please help. I really need to print locally.

You might want to try and enable some of the remote services in the services window. Just type services in the command prompt and hit enter then scroll down to enable them.

I'm not sure which one would effect remote print spooling but changing them from manual to automatic might help.

My problem was that the Vista remote system never saw local port that my printer was using for some reason. This was with it both networked and plugged in via USB port.

I finally figued it out after four days and many hours on the phone with Microsoft. Microsoft support claimed that it was related to my router settings, but I didn't believe it since the remote computer saw my iPhone just fine when it was connected locally. After simply playing around, here's what I found...it was actually quite basic!

On the remote system, when you try to add a 'local' printer, there's a drop down menu with a list of local ports that your remote system sees. Some of those will be on the remote system, but others will be on your local system. Make a note of the ones that are seen on your local system. In my case, LPT1 was not visible, but COM3 was.

Next, on your local system, in the settings for your functioning printer (Printer Properties, Ports Tab), there's a tick box that says "Enable Printer Pooling." Once you check that box, you can select multiple ports on your local machine. Here, you need to tick the box that your remote system is seeing (in my case, it's COM3), but make sure that your exisitng port remains checked as well (in my case, an IP port for my wireless router). Basically what you're doing is on your local system, you are pooling your exising printer setup with a port that can be seen by your remote system.

Then, on the remote system, install the printer drivers but don't select a port. Then go into Printers and add a printer. Select 'local' setup for that and when asked for the port, use the port you checked in the previous step on your local system (in my case, I selected COM3 on my local system). Select your printer from the list. It will ask if you want to use the exisiting drivers...say yes. Then print a test page to be sure that it works. Worked fine for me.

I simply can't believe how obvsious that solution was! If the remote system can't see the port you currently use, pool your printer setup with a port that it can see!

Hi,

I've tried your solution! But it didn't work.
My RD server is on Windows Seven and client on XP.
I can copy/paste from one to the other, but i can't print! On my remote system (7)
when I add a 'local' printer, there's a drop down menu with a list of local ports. I can see LPT1,2&3 and COM1,2,3,4 and 2 local ports XPS... & FILE.
On my local system, I check "Enable Printer Pooling." and I tick the box that my remote system is seeing (LPT1,2,3 and COM1,2,3,4).

Then, on the remote system, I install the printer drivers. Then I go into Printers and add a printer. I select 'local' setup for that and when asked for the port, I use the port I checked, like you said! But didn' work!

What can i do more?

Thanks.

Michel

Okay the main thing for the printers is that it is installed on the network.

can you do us a favor...

When you connect to the Vista computer. Can you pull up your printer's folder..

All the printers that are connected and if the RD is doing what it is suppose to be doing should add "redirect 1" to all your printers.... Umm wait a sec, i will do i to mines and show a picture.

What kind of printer are you using and are you using COM, LPT, USB or is it networked (tcp/ip)?

Thanks, i'm using with this printer USB(DOT4) and i've tried on network (tcp/ip).
I'm using Windows 7 (for RD server) and XP (for client) I can't see nothing. I've tried to access on my drive by checking local ressources... but don't appear! Only copy/paste work...

Lets try something. May i ask... are you using a defined user name to connect to the remote or are you actually using a built in account like "administrator"


Try logging into the remote computer using the Administrator account if your not and since that is a main accoun. Lets see if its not just a security issue your running into.

Ok, i was already using Administrator account.

I try to stop Firewall on XP but don't work...

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...p_03may16.mspx

Try this but dont' worry about the remote WEB at the bottom, just make sure all your ports are open and correct. Ifyou have a router.. and things like that...