Thread: Adding network printer in Vista.

I've got a laser printer openly linked to my major Vista machine as well as I'm trying to distribute it with the notebook which has Vista Home Premium. I did have this set up as well as working at one point, and then it all of a sudden stopped functioning without notice. I tried deleting as well as reinstalling the printer, but I get the dreaded "Windows cannot connect to the printer. Make sure the name is typed correctly and the printer is connected to the network." note. So, I attempt the huge solution that everybody claims works (Add the printer as a local printer on LPT1, then go in and try adding a new local port with this convention: \Computer name\printer name as the new port name.) Now, the trouble is that annoying me to no end is I get "Access denied" when I try to make the port. Adding to this irritation is the fact that no one seems to have had the same issue and I've been Googling like foolish trying to find somebody that has answer to me. Well it doesn't work not for me. So in one of my rare calls for help I ask if someone knows of a feasible explanation. Most of the people with this problem are sharing the printer off an XP machine but I have no XP machines. I'm really disturbed since this was functioning perfectly a couple of months ago. The only explanation I can think of is some Vista update must have not working the printer sharing somehow problem is I don't know which one and I don't feel like uninstalling a pile of updates to troubleshoot.

Have you installed the Vista printer driver in both machines.

In order to divide the printer on a Vista 32 server with a Vista 64 client, we have to distribute the "spooler printer directory" of Vista 32 server. And here is the spot; Vista has two special sets of permissions: "Share Permissions" as well as "NTFS Permissions". We have to install both, individually.

Here is the explanation:

1) Share Permissions

1. On explorer, go to C:\windows\system32\spool\PRINTERS
2. Right click, on the Properties
3. And on the Sharing tab
4. Advanced Sharing
5. Check "Share this folder"
6. Permissions
7. Grant everyone Full Control

2) NTFS Permissions

1. On explorer, go to C:\windows\system32\spool\printers
2. Right click, on the Properties
3. And click on the Security tab
4. Edit
5. Add
6. Advanced
7. Find Now
8. Choose "NETWORK"
9. OK
10. Grant NETWORK Full Control

I hope it helps you.