Printer keeps going offline in Windows 7 XP Mode

Question

Every time I reboot the computer, the printer in Windows 7 XP mode goes offline. I have to go back into the full XP mode and attach the printer again to make it work. I have the settings set to automatically attach the printer, but it doesn't appear to be working. Any ideas what might make it automatically re-attach? Does anyone see this working?

Answer 1

I had problems with Win7 printing to my HP6540 connected to a 98SE box and shared. Finally found the following post, look at the date! Thanks, Paul in Montreal!

Look here: http://forums.techarena.in/vista-help/807020.htm#post3241524

20-10-2007
Paul in Montreal Posts: n/a

Re: Can't connect to Network printer - Win98

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Hello all,

I've found a solution (worked for my setup) that clears the printer offline problem when printing from a Vista laptop PC over a home network to a printer connected to a Windows98 desktop PC. I never had this problem with my XP Home laptop accessing the printers on the Windows98 PC.

With the Vista PC, I was always able to Add my 2 printers (HP PSC 1350 and Canon i560) using Vista's wizard (Add a local printer), but after a restart of the Vista PC, both printers would be offline. In Printer properties, Ports tab, both printers would appear as Client Side Rendering Provider under the Description column.

My Vista PC is a new Dell Inspiron 1420, Vista Home Premium. My print server is a Dell Dimension V350, Windows 98. Home network is WiFi using a D-Link 624 router, WPA-PSK security enabled. Canon i560 on parallel port of Dell Dimension V350 HP PSC 1350 on USB port of Dell Dimension V350

Here's the fix:

1. In Control Panel, Printers, delete offline printers. If they wont 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 PC.
4. Now reinstall the printers as follows:
5. Open Control panel, Printers, and click Add a printer.
6. Click Add a local printer.
7. Select the "Use an existing port" radio button, and select LPT1: (Printer Port). Click Next.
8. Install the printer driver. Mine were found in the list inlcuded with Vista. Select the manufacturer and the printer. Click Next.
9. In the next window, accept the printer name or type in a new name. Leave the "Set as default printer" box unchecked. Click Next.
10. Vista should now install the printer. A window should open saying "You've successfully added printer name.
11. DO NOT Print a test page at this time, because nothing is connected to the LPT1 port on the laptop. Just press Finish. The printer you just added should appear in the Printers window.
12. Click ONCE on the newly added printer to highlight it, then right-click and open Properties.
13. On the Ports tab, click Add Port…, select Local Port, then click New Port…
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. Now you can go to the General tab, and Print a Test Page.

Hopefully, your test page will print. Then restart your computer to check that the printer comes back online.