Printer name not displaying in Vista

[TheNoble06]

Hi everyone,

This is not a major issue - but it is bugging me somewhat.

We run a Windows 2003 domain with around 150 Vista SP2 clients. All printers are added manually (ie not through GPOs). On some clients - the printers show up as the printer name which is what we want since we make sure the printer name includes where the printer is in the building (like HPLJ4000-CM).

However on some clients - the printers show up as model numbers and IP addresses - which is a bit useless for users (like HP LaserJet 4000 - 192.168.1.34 (or whatever)).

How can I make all the printers show up on the cients with the printer name?

We do use GPOs, and we do use Point and Print so printers can be installed without UAC prompts.

Any ideas?!

 

[linney]

You might have to set some type of naming convention at the time of the printer install?

Rename a printer

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-us/help/27da8a5a-2161-4d81-8b86-995287f03d3e1033.mspx

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...nters+vista+network&btnG=Search&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

 

[TheNoble06]

The strange this is some clients display the names properly - some don't. I can't see any correlation between PCs that can see the correct name and those that can't.

Also - I've realised that the clients with Printer names displayed as I would expect CAN see the printer queue and who is printing etc. The clients with the IP Address of the printer instead of the names can print - but the print queues appear empty even when there are jobs waiting to be serviced.

Wonder if it is firewall related although I doubt it since all the PCs are pushed firewall settings through GPO and all run the same GPO.

 

[linney]

Do the users have Manage Printers permissions, or just Print permissions?

 

[PCHomepage]

I am having the same issue where the name of the primary printer, an HP Photosmart, is not editable although any of the other printers can be renamed. It says only lp on MediaServer (it's attached to a NAS hard drive's USB port) which is not too descriptive!

 

[TheNoble06]

Ok - in my case I sorted this out.

I checked GPOs - nothing to do with them.
Check drivers for the NiCs, nothing to do with them
Check permissions for printers, nothing to do with them

I then realised in Vista the Network Sharing applet was showing my LAN connection as Unauthenticated. Finally got the bottom of it - in that our AV product NOD32 was causing this error intermittently.

So at least I know where to look to fix this. Not sure this will help PCHomepage though.

Cheers
A