No printer ports on Windows XP, can not install printer.

A friend of mine called me the other day about a printing problem. I remoted
into his machine and found there were no printers.

So, I went to add a printer and during the wizard I discover he has no local
LPT1 or USB ports and no option to install a new port!

Googling it doesn't return much. Here is a link to a screen shot...

http://i41.tinypic.com/219uom9.jpg

Anybody ever seen this. It's a Dell Precision 690, USB and LPT interfaces
show in device manager... crazy!

http://i39.tinypic.com/1etp9v.jpg

Here is a picture showing all of the ports missing, not just LPT1. Trying to
reinstall his USB HP 1020 Printer.

"Matt" wrote:

> A friend of mine called me the other day about a printing problem. I remoted
> into his machine and found there were no printers.
>
> So, I went to add a printer and during the wizard I discover he has no local
> LPT1 or USB ports and no option to install a new port!
>
> Googling it doesn't return much. Here is a link to a screen shot...
>
> http://i41.tinypic.com/219uom9.jpg
>
> Anybody ever seen this. It's a Dell Precision 690, USB and LPT interfaces
> show in device manager... crazy!
>

this sounds like the local port monitor registry key was edited.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors\Local
Port

REG_SZ
Driver=localspl.dll


here's the knowledgebase article on this
No Local Ports Are Available for Printers
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255507


--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

"Matt" <Matt@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:CF2B57ED-D73B-479D-B4EC-A906DB7294FC@microsoft.com...
> http://i39.tinypic.com/1etp9v.jpg
>
> Here is a picture showing all of the ports missing, not just LPT1. Trying
> to
> reinstall his USB HP 1020 Printer.
>
> "Matt" wrote:
>
>> A friend of mine called me the other day about a printing problem. I
>> remoted
>> into his machine and found there were no printers.
>>
>> So, I went to add a printer and during the wizard I discover he has no
>> local
>> LPT1 or USB ports and no option to install a new port!
>>
>> Googling it doesn't return much. Here is a link to a screen shot...
>>
>> http://i41.tinypic.com/219uom9.jpg
>>
>> Anybody ever seen this. It's a Dell Precision 690, USB and LPT interfaces
>> show in device manager... crazy!
>>

Alan thanks for your help!

The Monitors and Local Port keys were missing altogether. Added them, added
the string value, cycled print spooler and they ports are all back.

Thanks for you help!!!

"Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:

> this sounds like the local port monitor registry key was edited.
>
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors\Local
> Port
>
> REG_SZ
> Driver=localspl.dll
>
>
> here's the knowledgebase article on this
> No Local Ports Are Available for Printers
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255507
>
>
> --
> Alan Morris
> Windows Printing Team
> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
> http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1
>
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
>
> "Matt" <Matt@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:CF2B57ED-D73B-479D-B4EC-A906DB7294FC@microsoft.com...
> > http://i39.tinypic.com/1etp9v.jpg
> >
> > Here is a picture showing all of the ports missing, not just LPT1. Trying
> > to
> > reinstall his USB HP 1020 Printer.
> >
> > "Matt" wrote:
> >
> >> A friend of mine called me the other day about a printing problem. I
> >> remoted
> >> into his machine and found there were no printers.
> >>
> >> So, I went to add a printer and during the wizard I discover he has no
> >> local
> >> LPT1 or USB ports and no option to install a new port!
> >>
> >> Googling it doesn't return much. Here is a link to a screen shot...
> >>
> >> http://i41.tinypic.com/219uom9.jpg
> >>
> >> Anybody ever seen this. It's a Dell Precision 690, USB and LPT interfaces
> >> show in device manager... crazy!
> >>
>
>
>

It seems I am now unable to load USB printing support. Is the a registry
entry needed for this as well?

"Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:

> this sounds like the local port monitor registry key was edited.
>
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors\Local
> Port
>
> REG_SZ
> Driver=localspl.dll
>
>
> here's the knowledgebase article on this
> No Local Ports Are Available for Printers
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255507
>
>
> --
> Alan Morris
> Windows Printing Team
> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
> http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1
>
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
>
> "Matt" <Matt@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:CF2B57ED-D73B-479D-B4EC-A906DB7294FC@microsoft.com...
> > http://i39.tinypic.com/1etp9v.jpg
> >
> > Here is a picture showing all of the ports missing, not just LPT1. Trying
> > to
> > reinstall his USB HP 1020 Printer.
> >
> > "Matt" wrote:
> >
> >> A friend of mine called me the other day about a printing problem. I
> >> remoted
> >> into his machine and found there were no printers.
> >>
> >> So, I went to add a printer and during the wizard I discover he has no
> >> local
> >> LPT1 or USB ports and no option to install a new port!
> >>
> >> Googling it doesn't return much. Here is a link to a screen shot...
> >>
> >> http://i41.tinypic.com/219uom9.jpg
> >>
> >> Anybody ever seen this. It's a Dell Precision 690, USB and LPT interfaces
> >> show in device manager... crazy!
> >>
>
>
>

The spooler relies on Plug and Play for this but if something deleted this
from the registry


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors\USB
Monitor

REG_SZ
driver=usbmon.dll


add it back
--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

"Matt" <Matt@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E49C4D94-A813-4284-B5E0-8191B8BBA3E0@microsoft.com...
> It seems I am now unable to load USB printing support. Is the a registry
> entry needed for this as well?
>
> "Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:
>
>> this sounds like the local port monitor registry key was edited.
>>
>> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors\Local
>> Port
>>
>> REG_SZ
>> Driver=localspl.dll
>>
>>
>> here's the knowledgebase article on this
>> No Local Ports Are Available for Printers
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255507
>>
>>
>> --
>> Alan Morris
>> Windows Printing Team
>> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1
>>
>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> rights.
>>
>> "Matt" <Matt@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:CF2B57ED-D73B-479D-B4EC-A906DB7294FC@microsoft.com...
>> > http://i39.tinypic.com/1etp9v.jpg
>> >
>> > Here is a picture showing all of the ports missing, not just LPT1.
>> > Trying
>> > to
>> > reinstall his USB HP 1020 Printer.
>> >
>> > "Matt" wrote:
>> >
>> >> A friend of mine called me the other day about a printing problem. I
>> >> remoted
>> >> into his machine and found there were no printers.
>> >>
>> >> So, I went to add a printer and during the wizard I discover he has no
>> >> local
>> >> LPT1 or USB ports and no option to install a new port!
>> >>
>> >> Googling it doesn't return much. Here is a link to a screen shot...
>> >>
>> >> http://i41.tinypic.com/219uom9.jpg
>> >>
>> >> Anybody ever seen this. It's a Dell Precision 690, USB and LPT
>> >> interfaces
>> >> show in device manager... crazy!
>> >>
>>
>>
>>

Alan, making progress I think. I added that missing key and string and then
cycled the whole machine. under the Print/Monitors key there are only 2 keys,
which I have created... Local Port and USB Monitor, just an FYI as I see
addition keys on another XP machine I checked but they seem to be related to
3rd party software installations.

The message I get now is that "The Wizard was unable to detect any Plug and
Play printers" and trying to install manually does not offer any options for
USB. I have also tried restarting the box after cycling the print service.
Still no luck...


"Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:

> The spooler relies on Plug and Play for this but if something deleted this
> from the registry
>
>
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors\USB
> Monitor
>
> REG_SZ
> driver=usbmon.dll
>
>
> add it back
> --
> Alan Morris
> Windows Printing Team
> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
> http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1
>
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
>
> "Matt" <Matt@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:E49C4D94-A813-4284-B5E0-8191B8BBA3E0@microsoft.com...
> > It seems I am now unable to load USB printing support. Is the a registry
> > entry needed for this as well?
> >
> > "Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:
> >
> >> this sounds like the local port monitor registry key was edited.
> >>
> >> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors\Local
> >> Port
> >>
> >> REG_SZ
> >> Driver=localspl.dll
> >>
> >>
> >> here's the knowledgebase article on this
> >> No Local Ports Are Available for Printers
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/255507
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Alan Morris
> >> Windows Printing Team
> >> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1
> >>
> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> >> rights.
> >>
> >> "Matt" <Matt@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:CF2B57ED-D73B-479D-B4EC-A906DB7294FC@microsoft.com...
> >> > http://i39.tinypic.com/1etp9v.jpg
> >> >
> >> > Here is a picture showing all of the ports missing, not just LPT1.
> >> > Trying
> >> > to
> >> > reinstall his USB HP 1020 Printer.
> >> >
> >> > "Matt" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> A friend of mine called me the other day about a printing problem. I
> >> >> remoted
> >> >> into his machine and found there were no printers.
> >> >>
> >> >> So, I went to add a printer and during the wizard I discover he has no
> >> >> local
> >> >> LPT1 or USB ports and no option to install a new port!
> >> >>
> >> >> Googling it doesn't return much. Here is a link to a screen shot...
> >> >>
> >> >> http://i41.tinypic.com/219uom9.jpg
> >> >>
> >> >> Anybody ever seen this. It's a Dell Precision 690, USB and LPT
> >> >> interfaces
> >> >> show in device manager... crazy!
> >> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>