I'm running Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64 bit - I have a local printer (DB25 to USB) that runs just fine. But when I try and add a printer connected to a Windows XP system, everytime I restart the spooler or reboot, the printer goes offline and the port vanishes (although it's still in the registry just fine). To get it back, I need to remove the printer and add it back. Here's what I do: 1) Click "Add printer" 2) Pick local port 3) Pick new 4) Type \\prtsrv\prtname for the name 5) Pick the appropriate device driver Everything looks fine, the printer is attached to a port with the UNC name, the printer is in the "Ready" state and I can print just fine. However, when I restart the print spooler or reboot, the following happens 1) The printer is now offline 2) Print jobs just stay in the queue (not suprising) 3) An examinations of the port tab shows the port is missing and no port is selected 4) An examination of the registry shows the port is present the same way as before (I could find no difference). The port is defined and the printer has the port in its definition. 5) If I try and add the port back in manually, I get a "Port already exists" error, not suprisingly. Rebooting multiple times has no affect. The only way I know of to get the printer back is to delete it and add it back in. I would be so grateful for any tips in addressing this problem - this is very frustrating. Thanks, John

Additional Info: When the port disappears, trying to add it back in gives a "Port already exists" error. However, if I use the IP address of the XP prtsrv such as \\192.168.1.3\prtname, I can add the port back in and put the printer back online. The port still disappears on the next reboot but adding it back in works all the time. It is almost like the print spooler initialization decided that ports with UNC names were invalid and is removing them so they have to be added back in. I'm curious if anyone is NOT having this problem...

Hi, Do you use standard TCP\IP port? If so, after stopping the spooler service you can delete the port entry from the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors\ Standard TCP/IP Port Then, try to add the printer and install the latest printer to check how it works. Meanwhile, you could look at the following article: The new printer status is "Offline" after you delete a print queue and then restart a Windows-based computer Alex ZhaoPlease remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Hi Alex, Thank you so much for your reply... I'm using a local port - when I specify a standard TCP/IP port, it wants the IP address of the printer - my printer doesn't have one but is being shared through the XP machine. The article you cite has a problem different than mine. Yes, their printer is offline, but all they have to do is to put it back online. They do not have a missing port. I cannot put the printer back online until I assign a port to it. -- John

Hi, You can start Print Management (printmanagement.msc) and go to Print servers > <COMPUTERNAME> > Ports and delete the printer local port there. And add the port back manually to check how it wroks. Alex Zhao Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Hi Alex, Thank you for your message. I wish it were that simple - the problem is that when the port goes away, it doesn't show up under any port listing including the Print Management/Ports even though it exists in the registry. My guess is that that when the spooler starts, it puts together an active list of ports that are a subset of what is in the registry and everyone uses that. Whatever criteria it uses, it doesn't seem to like the UNC shares. -- John

Update: all of a sudden, I am able to add the DeskJet printer as a network printer. No more errors on not finding a driver. There were no changes on the Windows 7 side - I did change hardware platforms for the XP side with the printer and found out by accident that it is now working! Again, I have no explanation. Anyway, I can now reboot with the printer online.