Always have to delete & add printer on network to get it to print!

Hi Daryl.S,

Welcome to Microsoft Answers.

A) You can  try running the FIX IT Tool from Microsoft that automatically diagnoses and repairs problems with printing, installing a printer, connecting to a network printer, and other related errors. To do so click on the Fix it Button in the link below: “Troubleshoot Printer Problems”  http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/Troubleshoot-printer-problems   .

B) Also Update the printer with the latest drivers from the manufacturer’s website.

Also refer to the link “Troubleshoot Network Printer” http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Troubleshoot-network-printer-problems 

C) You may also try this:

1.  Click start-> Control Panel, Printers, and delete offline printers. If they won’t delete, it may be because there are pending print jobs in the queue. Open the printer and Cancel the jobs.

2.  In Printer properties, Ports tab, delete the previoulsy installed printers (offline statuts) that appear as Client Side Rendering Provider under the Description column. To do this, highlight the port, then click on Delete Port button. Click Apply.

3. Restart your computer.

4.  Now reinstall the printers as follows:

      i.  Open Control panel, Printers, and click Add a printer.

      ii. Click Add a local printer.

      iii. Select the "Use an existing port" radio button, and select LPT1: (Printer Port).

      iv. Click Next. 

      v. Install the printer driver.

5.  In the next window, accept the printer name or type in a new name. Leave the "Set as default printer" box unchecked. Click Next.

6.  Vista should now install the printer. A window should open saying "You've successfully added printer name.

7. DO NOT Print a test page at this time, because nothing is connected tothe LPT1 port on the laptop. Just press Finish. The printer you just added should appear in the Printers window.

8.  Click ONCE on the newly added printer to highlight it, then right-click and open Properties.

9.  On the Ports tab, click Add Port, select Local Port, then click New Port.

10.  When the Port Name window open, Enter a port name as follows: \computername\printername (replace computername with the name of your PC acting as print server, and printername with the name of your printer). Click OK.

11. You should now have a new port listed on the Ports tab of the printer Properties, but now the Description should be Local Port, instead of Client Side Rendering Provider. Click OK.

12. Now you can go to the General tab, and Print a Test Page.

Diana

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.