One of my users' XP computer wouldn't start this morning – the problem turned out to be a corrupt registry, fixed with a chkdsk. Now everything is fine, except he's missing all his printers and can't add any. When I try to add a network printer (by drag and drop or going through the wizard), I get:
Windows cannot connect to the printer. Either the printer name was typed incorrectly, or the specified printer has lost its connection to the server.
Neither of those conditions is true, and the printers all work fine from any other workstation.
Also, if I try to add the printer that's physically connected to LPT1 on his computer, the New Hardware Wizard says:
There was a problem installing this hardware: Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet 6P
It then gives me the option to install manually, where I get to chose the LPT port – only to find nothing listed in the selection box. The Device Manager shows a happy and healthy LPT1, so I have no idea why it's absent here.
Any ideas? I really don't feel like formatting and reinstalling everything.
Best Answer
I would remove all printer drivers and then try again.
Here is the MS article on what to do:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/135406/en-us