Shared Printer Port Disappearing

[ToeKneeBlack]

Hi everyone,

Since we migrated our network from XP to Windows 7 a few years ago, we have noticed a problem with our printer ports.

 

When sharing a printer from one Windows 7 computer to another computer, also running Windows 7, we are able to connect the printer using a Local Port, in the format

\\computer_name\printer_name

 

This works until the computer is restarted, or more specifically, until the print spooler service is restarted.

 

The printer stops working. Upon closer inspection, when we check which port the client computer is using for the printer, the port has disappeared.

When we try to re-enter the port, we're told that the port already exists, even though it isn't listed.

 

When we look at the registry, we find that the port exists in there, but for whatever reason, isn't listed in the ports GUI for the printer.

 

If we remove the port from the registry, we can re-enter it in the GUI, but it disappears again when the print spooler service is restarted.

 

Has anyone else had this issue, and has anyone been able to resolve it?

 

Thanks in advance,

Tony.