Re: Can't print to my Windows 98 shared printer from my XP compute

Hi Bob,

Please browse to the following Microsoft web article as it explains exactly
the printing problem that you and I may be experiencing:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307162.

The article explains how the problem is a Microsoft related issue when
working in a mixed SOHO network where the portable XP pro system is the
client and the Windows 98/Me machines are acting as a print server.

If you have found some work-around solution to this problem since, I would
be obliged if you could post me a possible solution. Somehow, I think it
will be difficult as it clearly a Microsoft issue. Next week a supervisor
from my printer manufacturer is going to contact me w.r.t. this issue. They
might be able to provide some workaround. I also contacted my XP (OEM) PC
manufacturer and they said that it was not a networking issue as I was able
to access all resources on the LAN network and they suggested it was probably
a printer manufacturer issue. However, having read the article above, I
would be inclined to say that it's a Microsoft issue. Furthermore, I was
able to print from my network Lexmark inkjet printer six months ago - which
implies that all roads lead to a Microsoft interoperability problem that
occurs from time to time.

Anyway, keep me posted if you have any further comments.

Martin





"Bob Smith" wrote:

>
>
> My clients out of town until Sunday, I'll try the tricks on Monday
> and post the results.
>
> Bob Smith
> Robert Smith Consulting
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, 16 Aug 2005 10:12:10 -0700, Bob Smith <na6t@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> >
> >HI Martin,
> >
> >I'm getting the same 'smoke and mirrors' from epson. It sure looks
> >like a windows problem to me.
> >
> >As an update on the system i'm working on I've got the printer
> >utilities working from the XPpro machine over the wireless network.
> >Now I can use the utilites for the C-60 printer that is connected to
> >the ME machine, but not print,, go figure? Why can you use the
> >printer Utilities and not PRINT.?
> >
> >I know what I can do
> >1. print files from the ME machine to the ME machine locally
> >2. print files on the XPpro machine with the ME machine over the
> > wireless network
> >3. Use Printer utilities on both machines to the C-60
> >
> >
> >I'm going to the client today and I'm going to install "X-netstat".
> >This is a program that will let me see what ports the XP pro machine
> >is trying to use for printing. It runs in the background and will let
> >you see everything going on with a LOG. It's like the windows
> >'netstat' but the logging is great to use. I've disabled the XPpro
> >firewall already but maybe somehow the correct port is being blocked
> >by XP with the new security updates.
> >
> >
> >I'll let you know what happens this afternoon, if hope
> >
> >Bob Smith
> >Robert Smith Consutling
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >On Mon, 15 Aug 2005 06:09:01 -0700, Martin Healy
> ><MartinHealy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> >>Hi Bob,
> >>
> >>I rang Lexmark technical support a few days ago to see if they could sort
> >>out this problem. I wasn't too happy with their assistance as they just send
> >>me on a email with a checklist of the basic steps in setting up File and
> >>Printer sharing in Windows. I expected a quick talk through resolution over
> >>the phone.
> >>
> >>It didn't help me as I carried out all the necessary steps in this mail. I
> >>replied to them again but they haven't responded since. Anyway, I have
> >>posted this email at the end of this mail because it includes WinMe which
> >>might prove helpful for you. But I'm sure you have carried out these steps
> >>correctly as well.
> >>
> >>It is going to be very difficult to solve this problem as they are 3
> >>variables: XP pro, Win 98 (or WinMe in your case) and the printer
> >>manufacturer as the problem can hinge around any of these. I feel the
> >>problem is due possibly to a printer driver issue as my Lexmark printer was
> >>manufactured before XP came out and may not support remote printing using
> >>this OS. Nevertheless, I managed to print remotely over the LAN from my XP
> >>laptop last December despite the fact that my Lexmark printer was
> >>manufactured before XP was released. As mentioned in my previous posts, I
> >>still have a old test page to prove it. This may imply that the recent
> >>security patches or updates applied to XP and Win9x/WinMe could have affected
> >>the interoperability of printer sharing for certain old printers that didn't
> >>come shipped with XP support. It seems that it may be affecting Epsom
> >>printers as well as Lexmark now.
> >>
> >>At this stage I'm still getting the same error message that you related to
> >>when trying to print a test page over the network. It comes up with a
> >>slightly different error message when trying to print a text document from my
> >>xp system over the network. Despite the fact the network printer was set up
> >>correctly via Add/Printer Wizard and displays the proper network queue name
> >>in Printer & Faxes, it still doesn't printer. The status also appears as
> >>ready. Anyway, I have included below the basic printer sharing procedure
> >>which I received from my Lexmark printer manuacturer. This may be of some
> >>assistance to you but I doubt it somehow.
> >>
> >>Martin
> >>
> >>See steps below:
> >>
> >>1. First make sure the network is working properly. (Double-click on the
> >>Network Neighborhood icon on the Windows desktop and ensure that all PCs on
> >>the network are visible, particularly the one you want to use.)
> >>2. Install the printer as normal on the PC that the printer is connected to
> >>(the host PC).
> >>3. Go to Start, Settings, Printers. (Windows XP: Go to Start, Printers and
> >>Faxes.)
> >>4. Right click on the printer icon and select Share.
> >>5. Click on Shared As, enter a name for the printer (for example: z52), and
> >>click on OK. You should see a hand holding the printer.
> >>6. Insert the Lexmark CD into the PC you want to install the network printer
> >>on (the client PC).
> >>7. Close the installation screen.
> >>8. Follow the instructions applicable to your operating system below.
> >>
> >>Windows 98/Me:
> >>
> >>1. Open the Printers folder.
> >>2. Click on Add printer and then click Next.
> >>3. Select Network Printer and then click Next.
> >>4. Click on Browse, select the printer you want to install, and then press
> >>OK.
> >>5. Click Next.
> >>6. If prompted for the drivers, indicate the INF file located on the CD.
> >>7. Select the name of the printer and whether you want to set it as the
> >>default, and then click Finish.
> >>
> >>Windows 2000/XP:
> >>
> >>1. Open the Printers folder.
> >>2. Click on Add printer and then click Next.
> >>3. Select Add a Network Printer and then click Next.
> >>4. You can complete this step in two different ways:
> >>Select Connect to a printer on the Internet and type in the network path and
> >>the name of the printer. For example, where \\level2-w2k2 is the name of the
> >>PC, you would type \\level2-w2k2\z55.
> >>OR
> >>Select the Type the printer name or click Next to browse for a printer
> >>option, leave the field blank, and click Next. Browse the network to select
> >>your printer.
> >>5. Click OK.
> >>6. If required, set the printer as your default and click Next.
> >>7. Click on Finish.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>"Bob Smith" wrote:
> >>
> >>> Hi Martin,
> >>>
> >>> I'm having the same problem with a client using a mix of OS's and one
> >>> printer.
> >>>
> >>> He has an Epson C60 connected via usb to a winME machine with all the
> >>> updates. he has purchased a Toshiba notebook with XP pro with SP2 and
> >>> in trying to share the printer connected to the ME machine I'm gettig
> >>> the same error message, "Test page failed to print"
> >>>
> >>> The printer name is less than 12 letters, it functions correctly on
> >>> the ME machine, is seen by the XP machine and installs as a network
> >>> printer with the XP 'Add a printer" dialog.
> >>>
> >>> When XP asked for the drivers I pointed it to a file with the current
> >>> XP drivers from the epson site and it installed those drivers.
> >>>
> >>> However, it will not print and you get the above error message.
> >>>
> >>> I'd also be interested in getting a solution to this.
> >>>
> >>> Bob Smith
> >>> Robert Smith Consulting
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> On Mon, 1 Aug 2005 07:58:02 -0700, Martin Healy
> >>> <MartinHealy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> >Thanks for your response and please find the answers below to your summary
> >>> >questions.
> >>> >"Chuck" wrote:
> >>> >
> >>> >> On Thu, 28 Jul 2005 13:15:06 -0700, Martin Healy
> >>> >> <MartinHealy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >>> >>
> >>> >> >I can't print from the printer attached to my Windows 98 machine using my XP
> >>> >> >computer. I can successfully browse for the printer under \\Martin\LEXMARK
> >>> >> >when adding the printer in XP. When I select Next in Add Printer Wizard
> >>> >> >after browsing to the correct print queue name above, an error message is
> >>> >> >displayed as "The server for the 'Lexmark Z52 Series ColorFine' printer does
> >>> >> >not have the correct printer driver installed etc". As a result, I then
> >>> >> >clicked OK to continue and selected the built-in XP Lexmark Z52 driver from
> >>> >> >the manufacturer's list. Next the Default Printer page appears in the Add
> >>> >> >Printer Wizard requesting me to use this printer as the default printer.
> >>> >> >After choosing YES and selecting Next to this, the final Add Printer page
> >>> >> >appears stating: "You have successfully completed the Add Printer Wizard etc".
> >>> >> >
> >>> >> >However, when I attempt to print a test page from my XP system over the
> >>> >> >network, it displays the following message: "Test page failed to print. Would
> >>> >> >you like to use the print troubleshooter for assistance? operation could not
> >>> >> >be completed".
> >>> >> >
> >>> >> >The status of my Lexmark on Martin network printer shows up as 'Ready' in
> >>> >> >Add Printer wizard and has a pipe attached, indicating a network printer. If
> >>> >> >I print locally from my Windows 98 machine, I can see the document queue and
> >>> >> >the document being processed from my XP system by double clicking on the
> >>> >> >printer icon. In other words I can see the test page being printed on my 98
> >>> >> >machine from my XP computer. Also, the Documents would show 1 on my XP
> >>> >> >printer icon. It's strange that I can see pages being printed locally over
> >>> >> >the network and that I can't print over the network using my XP computer.
> >>> >> >Incidently, Lexmark represents the share name of my printer and Martin
> >>> >> >represents the name of the Windows 98 machine.
> >>> >> >
> >>> >> >Also, I can view all shared resources on my Windows 98 machine over the
> >>> >> >network from my XP laptop. Furthermore, I can access shared folders on the
> >>> >> >98 machine and I can successfully ping the 98 machine from my XP laptop.
> >>> >> >From the point of troubleshooting, I elimimated a potential VSERVER.vxd
> >>> >> >conflict message when adding the File and Printer Service in Microsoft
> >>> >> >Networks in Windows 98 by extracting a new copy of this file to the
> >>> >> >C:\Windows\System Directory. This corrected that problem but did not resolve
> >>> >> >my existing print issue. I would also like to remind you that I was able to
> >>> >> >print over the network in the past from my XP laptop without ever having to
> >>> >> >select the built-in XP driver for that printer. I'm using the same printer
> >>> >> >driver for my Lexmark Z52 on my 98 machine as I did in the past when it last
> >>> >> >worked. I still have a copy of this print test page from last December. The
> >>> >> >driver name showed up as UNIDRV.DLL on my XP test page when it last worked.
> >>> >> >I have done virtually everything as this stage to solve this remote printing
> >>> >> >issue. There is no real simple solution to this problem as I have found out
> >>> >> >over the last 3 weeks. It's only since I carried out a reinstallation on my
> >>> >> >98 machine a couple months ago, that this problem has arisen. I find it is
> >>> >> >very strange because I have a perfectly working network connection and I'm
> >>> >> >using the built-in XP driver on my XP laptop when connecting to the 98
> >>> >> >printer over the network.
> >>> >> >
> >>> >> >This inability to print over the network from my XP laptop is a major
> >>> >> >drawback because it also means that I can't use this network printer for
> >>> >> >incoming faxes.
> >>> >> >
> >>> >> >The only thing left for me to do now after correcting the VSERVER issue on
> >>> >> >the 98 machine is to uninstall and reinstall the LAN connection components on
> >>> >> >my XP laptop etc. TCP/IP, WLAN protocols, File & Printer sharing etc in
> >>> >> >Network properties which could be problematic in its own way. Please note, I
> >>> >> >can print locally from my printer and I can access shared folders on the 98
> >>> >> >machine from my XP laptop but I just can't print over the network using the
> >>> >> >printer attached to the 98 machine.
> >>> >> >
> >>> >> >Could you please tell me if there is any technical online chat (SIP)
> >>> >> >facility available in relation to this issue as this problem is ongoing for a
> >>> >> >long time now. I don't think the manfacturer of my XP laptop will assist me
> >>> >> >with this problem as the 98 machine is from a different manufacturer. At
> >>> >> >this stage, I feel the problem lies on the XP side rather that from the 98
> >>> >> >machine. This is why I have posted the problem here rather than the Windows
> >>> >> >98 community site. Recent windows updates or patches on my XP laptop may
> >>> >> >have lead to this problem. It's is not a Lexmark issue either as it worked
> >>> >> >before using this printer and I have carried out the exact same procedure in
> >>> >> >setting up the network printer as in the past. Finally it is not a printer
> >>> >> >driver issue as well since I'm using the built-in Lexmark Z52 XP driver on my
> >>> >> >XP system while adding the printer - even though I succeeded without this
> >>> >> >driver in the past by just using the UNIDRV.DLL driver on the 98 side. The
> >>> >> >printer port settings are also correct as it shows up as \\Martin\Lexmark in
> >>> >> >XP and LPT1 in 98. I also ensured that the default data type is set to RAW
> >>> >> >in the XP printer properties.
> >>> >> >
> >>> >> >Once again, I would appreciate any suggestions that may fix this problem if
> >>> >> >at all possible.
> >>> >> >
> >>> >> >Thanks
> >>> >>
> >>> >> Martin,
> >>> >>
> >>> >> Let me summarise:
> >>> >> 1) You can print locally to the printer, from a Windows 98 computer. Yes
> >>> >> 2) You cannot print remotely to the printer, from a Windows XP computer. Yes
> >>> >> 3) You could print remotely to the printer, from the Windows XP computer, until
> >>> >> you reinstalled Windows 98. Yes
> >>> >> 4) After reinstalling Windows 98, you observed a problem with VSERVER.vxd, when
> >>> >> adding the File and Printer Sharing network component. Yes
> >>> >> 5) You were able to make the VSERVER.vxd error go away by extracting a new copy
> >>> >> of the file. Yes
> >>> >> 6) The printer problem was not observed before the reinstallation of Windows 98. Yes
> >>> >> 7) File and Printer sharing is an essential component of the ability for the
> >>> >> Windows 98 computer to share resources, such as the ability of a remote computer
> >>> >> to print to a locally attached printer. Yes just like in XP.
> >>> >>
> >>> >> Yet you believe that this is a Windows XP problem. Why again do you feel that?
> >>> >>
> >>> >Because I have eliminated all possible factors that may be causing the
> >>> >problem from the 98 side e.g. resolution of the VSERVER conflict message
> >>> >between the old and newer version of this file, the same Lexmark driver is
> >>> >installed on the 98 machine when it worked in the past, no problem printing
> >>> >locally on the 98 side, and the file and folder sharing feature is working.
> >>> >Furthermore, I never encountered the "The server for the 'Lexmark Z52 Series
> >>> >ColorFine' printer does not have the correct printer driver installed etc"
> >>> >alert message while adding the printer in XP when it last worked. Now I
> >>> >have to select the correct built-in digitally signed XP Lexmark Z52 driver
> >>> >from my XP system in order to continue at this point. I was told by members
> >>> >of the 98 Newsgroup site to use the built-in Lexmark driver when receiving
> >>> >the above message. Although the built-in Lexmark 52 driver on my XP computer
> >>> >allows me to successfully add the printer, it does not allow me to print
> >>> >remotely. I can also ping the XP computer from the 98 machine provided the
> >>> >ICMP setting on the XP firewall is configured or enabled to accept incoming
> >>> >ping requests from outside. Likewise, I can ping the 98 machine from my XP
> >>> >computer and browse and access all shared folders on the 98 machine over the
> >>> >network. The only thing that has changed since before is that the XP
> >>> >computer has now got File and Printer sharing is enabled on the firewall
> >>> >whereas this was just set to simple sharing (recommended) in the past.
> >>> >Besides this should not make any difference when accessing resources on the
.

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