Windows Print Server - "Windows cannot connect to printer"

Question

Hello,

We are using Print Management on a Windows Server 2012 R2 as our Print Server. There are some printers that get the "Windows cannot connect to printer" error attached when we try to install it on user's computer. I can ping fine between the Print Server and test computer by IP as well as computer name. The error code is 0x00000bcb. I have tried the following:

• Restarted the Printer and Print Server.
• Updated the drivers for the printers with this problem in Print Management.
• Removed and re-installed the printer on the Print Server.
• Restarted the print spooler on the Print Server.
• Disabled firewall on user computer.

I know of 2 Sharp printers where this is happening. The other printers, which are mainly Brother printers, are working fine.

Thank you.

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](https://filestore.community.support.microsoft.com/api/images/d51a87e9-132a-498f-ad61-c61322373a0b?upload=true&fud_access=wJJIheezUklbAN2ppeDns8cDNpYs3nCYjgitr%2bfFBh2dqlqMuW7np3F6Utp%2fKMltnRRYFtVjOMO5tpbpW9UyRAwvLeec5emAPixgq9ta07Dgnp2aq5eJbnfd%2fU3qhn54d7Vt7oOtF3k3xdd1FbVDElVipi%2fEV5i1TR%2b52txXjMNw3ouvPbOW682Jq3BcJZxI6aJAs5XsidgkvZkUoo2LpFPilXgqRBKafRyNs2AIpDKkCFasS23Tgd%2bDavaV9lHr4D%2bbxWgXzRktJN9gZADgmWvhjDbTU9Gd8DTNjB9pXMR93DuchTY0rjKyD4WKObnPtSfLFqAZy1m8ubZl3B6eLwYljK3ZiCGpxKb6aBCbEWmNIONdIITlVtO6X7J7A2IeiJHo0fdhrFGBq7rsH4PohqIYGN8cB3XlypYMW7MhVE8%3d)

Answer 1

Hello jbooze,

Thank you for your question and for reaching out with your question today.

This is normally caused by an issue with the printer drivers. You may need to experiment to find a print driver version that works well for your hardware configuration. I have spent many hours experimenting with printers when they have shown issues like this.

If the reply was helpful, please don’t forget to upvote or accept as answer.

Best regards.