Losing local port for printer

[TauTau]

Hi,

every now and then (more now than then ) I lose a printer that's configured with a local port to a server. I set that one up with add printer, then local port, new port "\\server\printer". Often when I try to use that printer again, I note it's greyed out, and markes as "Use offline". When I check properties, it's not bound to any port anymore. I can't from that dialog use "add port", because I get a message then, that the port already exists. So I gotta delete that port, and reassign the printer. That is quite annoying, being that this doesn't happen rarely, but more often.
So, two questions: What was the mscsomething command, where I can see created local ports, to delete them? And, how can I stop Windows from losing the connection between that port and the printer?

 

[TauTau]

anyone maybe has news on this ? It's still happening after every reboot...

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

1) After a re-boot your machine might not be connected to the network - before trying to print make sure you can ping the remote machine / device. Sometimes - especially if you are printing from an XP machine it can take maybe 10 mins or so before all parts of a network can actually "see" each other. Make sure your Network discovery on W7 is not turned off as well.

2) You don't have to delete and re-create the local port each time -- you can use an existing port.

In the control panel ==> Devices and Printers you can see ports already defined in the add printer option.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[TauTau]

I'm printing from windows 7 to a 2003 server. When I say I *lose* the port, I mean exactly that: in printmanagement.msc the port is gone. Or better, not visible. Because when I try to recreate it, I can't because windows says it's already there. I have to delete the printer, reboot several times, and somewhen I can recreate the port. Haven't figure what really gets rid of that nonvisible port then...

Edit: Just found something out: When I create the port *before* I try printing to it, I can instantly create it, when I look at the printer then, it's still offline but connected to that port and I can switch it online. May have been just luck though, have to retry that a few times. Still, the port was lost again, and that was what not may happen...

 

[elife]

the problem is not related to windows 7 only , we are facing the same in win xp

 

[TauTau]

that's strange... because my XP install before never had such a problem... btw, I solved that problem by using a USB to parallel converter...