Network printer occasionally doesn't appear

[swpmre]

Hi,

 

We've got a strange, but relatively minor error, which is causing frustration.

 

Network is Windows 7 machines everywhere, Windows Server 2008, and Xerox Phaser 8560 networked printers.

 

The printers are networked through a file print server based at our main site, which is geographically distant (approx 10 miles) from the site where the user is.

 

Very occasionally the networked printer does not appear in the printer list in Office, or in the Devices and Printers dialog.

 

If the user reboots, or another user logs on, invariably the printer will reappear.

 

This is a fairly simple work-around, but it is a waste of time, and we'd like to stop it happening.

 

I cannot see anything different about the configuration of this printer. The problem is not restricted to this PC, nor to this user. Though I do not know of it happening at a different site.

 

One thing I speculated on is that the distance between the sites and an inadequate network connection might mean that the printers didn't load properly, though I would have thought that if this was the case we would experience the problem more frequently than we currently do.

 

Does anyone have any other ideas?

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[Gaz]

How is the printer mapped? GPP? or Print Management? Does anything appear in the event logs regarding the printer failing to map?

[swpmre]

Mapped and deployed through Printer Management.

I cannot see anything in the logs that show there is a problem.

[timbo343]

You could mock up a very simple printer vbs script (a little bit of googling will help you here) to see if this will map the printer. We have been using vbs for deploying printers since moving to windows 7 and its not missed a beat (unless ive stuck the odd random character in by mistake). It is just in the logon and logoff part of policy in group policy.

 

This runs at logoff:

 

Set wshNetwork = CreateObject("WScript.Network")
on Error Resume Next

'Deletes all network printers
Set clPrinters = WshNetwork.EnumPrinterConnections
On Error Resume Next
For i = 0 to clPrinters.Count - 1 Step 2
wshNetwork.RemovePrinterConnection clPrinters.Item(i+1), true
Next

 

and this runs at logon (heavily edited but shows the basics:

 

' Script to add network printers to workstations and thin clients WHEN THEY ARE PART OF A SPECIFIC GROUP IN AD

' Declare variables and enumerate existing printer connections

' Setting the parameters up

On error resume next

Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Set WshNetwork = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Network")
Set wshnetwork = CreateObject("WScript.Network")
Set ADSysInfo = CreateObject("ADSystemInfo")
Set CurrentUser = GetObject("LDAP://" & ADSysInfo.Username)
Set oPrinters = WshNetwork.EnumPrinterConnections
dim Counter, PrinterPath
dim strConnectString, strResult
strGroups = LCase(CurrentUser.MemberOf)
strGroups = LCase(Join(CurrentUser.MemberOf))
strUser = WshNetwork.username

' Sets the groups up with the member of settings in AD
' Const = Identifier in script | cn = group name in AD

	Const Maths	= "cn=mathematics"

Dim computerName
computerName = LCase(WshNetwork.ComputerName)

'WScript.Echo "computername variable: " & (computerName)

'Deletes All Network Printers... Not manually installed
'	For i = 0 to oPrinters.Count - 1 step 2						
'			Wshnetwork.RemovePrinterConnection oPrinters.Item(i+1), true
'		
'	NEXT

'WScript.Echo "computername variable: " & (computerName)

' ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Remove Printer at logon ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
'Staff group

'If Instr(strGroups,Staff) then
'For i = 0 to oPrinters.Count - 1 step 2						
		'Wshnetwork.RemovePrinterConnection oPrinters.Item(i+1), true
'NEXT

'End If 'staff

' ############################################# FOLLOW ME / Print Queues ####################################################

' Follow Me Queue - Staff group
If Instr(strGroups,staff) then

wshnetwork.addwindowsPrinterConnection "\\server\printer"

End If 'Follow Me Queue

' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

' ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ IT Room 2 Printer (Kyocera P6030cdn) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
' Adding printer depending on part of computer name

' IT Room 2 Computers
Select case (Left(computername,4))
Case "it2-"
	
	wshnetwork.addwindowsprinterconnection "\\server\printersharename"
		wshnetwork.setdefaultprinter "\\server\printersharename"

End Select 'IT room 2 Computers

' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

' Users to map this printer only!

Select case strUser
   Case "Input_A_Username_here"

	wshnetwork.addwindowsprinterconnection "\\server\printersharename"

End Select 'Users - Map printer only

' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

' Computers to map ans set this printer as default
Select Case (computerName)
Case "Computer_Name","Another_Computer_Name_optional"

	wshnetwork.addwindowsprinterconnection "\\server\printersharename"
		wshnetwork.setdefaultprinter "\\server\printersharename"
WScript.Echo "Printer ************ added successfully

End Select  'Computers to map and set this printer as default

Edited May 27, 2015 by timbo343