No printers listed in Printers & Faxes and cannot add printer

[ibesso]

Hi.

I've noticed a very strange problem lately.
I have a printer connected directly to my brother's computer (Windows XP Pro). We both have no problem printing using this printer (HP Deskjet 940c).
When I try to browse the printers on my brother's computer (through Start -> Settings -> Printers & Faxes). I get the Printer & Faxes page, but no printer is displayed there. Also, when I try to click on "Add Printer", I get no response.
However, if I open notepad, for example, and then press CTRL+P (to print), I get a list where I see the printer and other old printers we had. There I can set the default printer or the printer I would like to use in this print job. I can even add a new computer and the wizard is open. Still, I cannot "see" the printers on Printers & Faxes. It's WinXP + SP2, but I do not remember if this was the original state even on SP1 or when installing the OS.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[ibesso]

Alright, linney, here is a summary of the errors and warnings in Event Viewer I had on 26/2 - the last reboot (have just checked them):
System
Event Type: Error
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7000
Description: The NTPort Library Driver service failed to start due to the following error: The system cannot find the file specified.

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7000
Description: The Portable Media Serial Number service failed to start due to the following error: The system cannot find the path specified.

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7000
Description: The Upload Manager service failed to start due to the following error: The system cannot find the path specified.

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7000
Description: The Ati HotKey Poller service failed to start due to the following error: The system cannot find the file specified.

Event Type: Error
Event Source: NETLOGON
Event Category: None
Event ID: 3095
Description: This computer is configured as a member of a workgroup, not as a member of a domain. The Netlogon service does not need to run in this configuration.

Application
Event Type: Warning
Event Source: Microsoft
Event Category: Initialization/Termination
Event ID: 32026
Description: The outgoing routing rule is not valid because it cannot find a valid device. The outgoing faxes that use this rule will not be routed. Verify that the targeted device or devices (if routed to a group of devices) is connected and installed correctly, and turned on. If routed to a group, verify that the group is configured correctly. Country/region code: '*' Area code: '*'

Event Type: Warning
Event Source: Microsoft
Event Category: Initialization/Termination
Event ID: 32068
Description: Fax Service failed to initialize any assigned fax devices (virtual or TAPI). No faxes can be sent or received until a fax device is installed.

[highlight]----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/highlight]

I tried Registry Medic (2 versions), RegSeeker, Easy Cleaner:
Registry Medic cause violation errors and floating point errors (I don't like it, because it happened on other computers too).
RegSeeker ended up after less than a minute in the "Not Responding" zone.
Easy Cleaner cleaned a lot of garbage (ran it once again to make sure nothing was overlooked or forgotten).
All 3 (or 4 if to include 2 versions of Registry Medic) to no avail.

I already tried using the "Troubleshoot printing" for not being able to install local printer. They give me a wrong direction, because the relate to incompatibility of drivers for Windows XP while this is definitely not my problem.

I'll just adjust the summary you offered:

1. No Printer is listed in Printer and Faxes.
I cannot add new printer using the link "Add a printer".
If I run Notepad, for example, and I choose Print (CTRL+P), I can see installed printers, select another printer to print the document, select the default printer and even Add a printer using the "Add a printer" wizard.

2. Can print using an image viewer???? and print from there.
I can print using any program (MS Word, Excel, Notepad, Image Viewer, etc.), but not using right click on a document/picture, etc.

3. explained above (2).

4. That is correct. reminder: this is a local printer to this computer having the issues.

5. Hell, no. This is a disturbing annoyance that would absolutely not justify reinstalling XP and I would like to solve with the current installation (e.g.: if I want to stop a printing job, I cannot, because I cannot monitor the printer).

Once again, I would like to say once again I appreciate all the help I'm getting here from you all. I hope this will end in curing this issue.

 

[bcastner]

These services are not finding their files.

. Check your path statement. right-click My Computer, Properties, Advanced, Environmental Variables, highlight "Path" in the lower box and click edit.

While the Path can have many entries, it must also contain:
%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;

. Now check each of the services complained about in your list above. Start, Run, regedit
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\

Click on the shortname for any effected service. You will find a REG_EXPAND_SZ variable called "ImagePath". This should be fully pathed, either with replaceable variables or with the full text path of the service entry:

For example, for the Net Logon Service, either of these would work:

%SystemRoot%\System32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\lsass.exe

(Note, use Services.msc and Stop the Netlogon service, and set its startup to Manual. You do not need this service in your setting.)

Do this for each of the services that are complained about. Although I do not see one that would matter to your underlying issue.

 

[linney]

This is a good guide to the Services side of XP.

http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

This might be of use for any right-click problem.

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm

As I can't persuade you to repair XP via running it over itself. You would lose all your windows updates but your files and programs would remain untouched. Can you confirm that you did at least run the System File Checking program SFC /Scannow from the Start Run box?

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

 

[ibesso]

The path is correct and has both C:\Windows\System32 and %SystemRoot%\System32 strings. I even compared it to my computer.
Regarding the services: I solved all the supposingly not starting services. I compated them to the services running on my computer and then re-checked which services are set to start automatically (Startup Type column in services.msc) and not on "Started" state (Status column in services.msc).
Again, the fax service failed to start because I do not have a dial-up modem installed and therefore, I disabled it.

Hasn't any of your relatives or friends had this issue once ?

 

[ibesso]

Like I said above, I took care of the services and the eventviewer warnings & errors. On my PC I don't even have an NTPort. I noticed I can download NTPort Evaluation, but to what purpose - I do not know.

I have a strong concrete feeling that the right-click problem has occured due to the same problem, but again, I do not have a problem seeing the context menu anywhere on desktop or any other application. The link you offered refers another problem. The problem I described is not simply a right-click probelm.

I did run SFC /SCANNOW with the original Windows XP CD.

 

[linney]

Try unchecking "Fax Services" in Add or Remove (Windows Components).

 

[ibesso]

Done that too.
Did not matter to the issue.

 

[ibesso]

You all would not believe what happened (or what did not happen) and what I have been through the last 2 days & nights.

I decided to follow your suggestion and to reinstall Windows XP. At first I put the installation CD inside the drive and chose install. After it finished, it kept rebooting again and again.
I tried the Safe mode and got the same problem (after a file named d347bus.sys). In Debugging mode, I got a BSOD telling me maybe there is bad sectors.
I restarted and tried to run the computer from the WinXP SP2 Boot CD and tried to repair (not the repair console, because for some reason I could not pass the stage where I have to enter Administrator password. I even reset it to blank with a linux boot I used once).
So it goes to infinite installation attempts (even with WinXP SP1 CD) but to no avail !!!

Anyway, I'm glad the partitions were FAT32 and not NTFS.
I entered command prompt using Windows 98 Boot CD and renamed this SYS file. Then, I had a problem in the middle of the installation process (Java Package error), so I entered again to command prompt to del all JAV*.* files and directories.
After that, the installation was successful although I had to reinstall some drivers from the manufacturer's CD.
After I dealt with all the problems, I checked the Printers & Faxes and you would not believe it: it did not change ! I still have the same original issue.

Now what ?!

 

[linney]

What Service Pack level are you at? Are you mixing XP Service Pack versions as you reinstall and repair XP? I see mention of "WinXP SP2 Boot CD" and "WinXP SP1 CD" and also "del all JAV*.* files and directories". I'm not too sure that you had a successful installation repair.

Forget about repairing, I think it has moved beyond that now.

Save any valuable data and reformat and reinstall XP clean.

If you have any problems completing the above it may be time to start looking at the hardware side of things.

On completion check the Printer and Faxes situation before installing other programs etc.

 

[ibesso]

I did not mix. I used Windows XP SP2 like I should (the computer had all the latest security updates beyond SP2).
I first got the neverending reboots when I did all ok, so after 2 unsuccessful attempts for WinXP SP2 installations, I gave it a try because my computer refused to run into Windows.
I'm sure that if I will install XP clean and fresh on another partition, it will all be normal.
My conclusion to all that: it does not have anything to do with the issue.

 

[linney]

Stick these away for later use.

System with the Mpegport.sys driver repeatedly restarts after you install Windows XP ServicePack 2

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;878474&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

875350 - How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 2 from your computer

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;875350&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

875355 - How to use the Automatic Recovery feature to recover your computer if the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Setup program is not completed successfully

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;875355&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

I still can't fathom what occurred with your repair attempt, I'm not sure what was deleted in the middle of the repair by "del all JAV*.* ". Your the man on the spot so if you say all is well except for the original problem then I must except that.

I do agree with you that a clean install is a good option for fixing the problem. The problem with any repair is that if anything in the Registry is corrupt, the repair installation may carry across the faulty settings as it saves your files and settings during the repair process.

Which brings me to another thing that I can't remember whether it has been checked on not and that is the possibility of a corrupt profile? Have you the same fault with a different user?

 

[wam444]

http://www.jsifaq.com/SUBJ/tip4500/rh4552.htm

worked for me with the same problem

 

[ibesso]

linney, I think I did not try or it did not solve the problem.
I now ended up with a total need to format the HDD, because some hacker messed up my brother's computer.

wam444, I will surely use your kind advice next time I encounter this problem. The link you gave relates Windows 2000, but I'm sure it will help curing Windows XP as well.