Add Printer icon missing

At this point it looks like a policy issue and the UI is just obeying the
rules enabled by where ever you are getting your settings.

Do you have trusted forests or are all the user and machine accounts in the
same domain? I don't know too much about domains, just the spooler.

On the machines that don't have the Add Printer option, can you add a
connection using the prnmngr.vbs script in system32?

prnmngr -ac -p \\printserver\printshare



--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

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

"jelaine" <jelaine@cakmail.org> wrote in message
news:8276D8A7-D4CD-46FF-AE43-9847BADF8C2B@microsoft.com...
>I did get the error message. I'm mystified as to how it is getting set. It
> doesn't appear in any of the GPOs applied to the computer or users from AD
> GPOs.
>
> Yes, we do have Windows Server 2003 R2 with all updates applied. And yes,
> I
> am the domain admin.
>
> Additionally, on a computer that will not add printers, I ran RSOP.msc. It
> didn't show any Admin templates policies under User Configuration when
> listing all policies.
>
> "Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:
>
>> Set this policy on a machine which is working, run gpupdate /force on a
>> command window, and verify the message is the same.
>>
>> Was the R2 domain schema added to your domain?
>> Pushprinterconnections.exe
>> will only work after the domain schema has been updated and printers have
>> been added to a GPO object.
>>
>> Folder Options: yes this is what I was referring to.
>>
>> Are you the domain admin?
>>
>> --
>> Alan Morris
>> Windows Printing Team
>> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
>>
>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> rights.
>>
>> "jelaine" <jelaine@cakmail.org> wrote in message
>> news:754DB844-7B56-4D11-9F7B-E5DF48BBA3BA@microsoft.com...
>> >I don't have the "Prevent addition of printers" set on any GPOs. I
>> >checked
>> > this on a computer that did not have the Add Printer icon showing and
>> > got
>> > the
>> > error message when File>>Add Printer was clicked.
>> >
>> > I used pushprinterconnections per Microsoft web site to try to make the
>> > printers available, but it didn't seem to do anything.
>> >
>> > I also checked the Windows Folder Option and wasn't sure what you meant
>> > by
>> > the Show common tasks in folders option. If it is checked, the Add
>> > Printer
>> > icon shows up in the left taks pane. If Windows Classic is checked, it
>> > comes
>> > up in the list of printers installed. Is that right?
>> >
>> > "Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:
>> >
>> >> The icon is part of the User Interface. The print spooler does not
>> >> need
>> >> the
>> >> icon to add and delete printers but when the spooler crashes it
>> >> sometimes
>> >> is
>> >> unavailable in the printers folder. The Windows Folder Option: Show
>> >> common
>> >> tasks in folders, setting removes the Add Printer icon from the
>> >> printers
>> >> folder.
>> >>
>> >> the error you are receiving is from this policy setting
>> >>
>> >> >> >> gpedit.msc
>> >> >> >> User Configuration
>> >> >> >> Admin templates
>> >> >> >> Control Panel
>> >> >> >> Printers
>> >> >> >> Prevent addition of printers
>> >>
>> >> Run RSOP.msc to create view that will show which GPO is setting this
>> >> policy
>> >> \
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Do you have special GPO software? The spooler service does not supply
>> >> a
>> >> policy setting to install published printers.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Alan Morris
>> >> Windows Printing Team
>> >> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
>> >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
>> >>
>> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> >> rights.
>> >>
>> >> "jelaine" <jelaine@cakmail.org> wrote in message
>> >> news:8D31FDAD-85A6-4B14-806B-0B1A277EADAE@microsoft.com...
>> >> > Maybe I don't understand what the print spooler does. I didn't think
>> >> > it
>> >> > had
>> >> > anything to do with the Add Printer icon disappearing. When it does
>> >> > disappear, you can go to File|Add Printer. Instead of the Add
>> >> > Printer
>> >> > Wizard
>> >> > coming up, the message "This operation has been cancelled due to
>> >> > restrictions
>> >> > in effect on this computer. Please contact your system
>> >> > administrator."
>> >> > This
>> >> > sounds more like a GPO that sometimes gets applied, sometime
>> >> > doesn't. I
>> >> > just
>> >> > don't know what GP it could be.
>> >> >
>> >> > If it is the spooler on each computer, why would 350 spoolers go bad
>> >> > all
>> >> > of
>> >> > a sudden?
>> >> >
>> >> > To answer your question, when this problem first appeared, I set a
>> >> > GPO
>> >> > to
>> >> > install published printers when a user logs in. It doesn't seem to
>> >> > work,
>> >> > however.
>> >> >
>> >> > "Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> The spooler service is failing. Send the dump files to MS and
>> >> >> restart
>> >> >> the
>> >> >> spooler. Most likely there is a print driver corrupting the
>> >> >> spooler
>> >> >> process
>> >> >> memory which will cause random failures.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Do you use logon scripts to add printers to user accounts?
>> >> >>
>> >> >> --
>> >> >> Alan Morris
>> >> >> Windows Printing Team
>> >> >> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
>> >> >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
>> >> >>
>> >> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> >> >> rights.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> "jelaine" <jelaine@cakmail.org> wrote in message
>> >> >> news:B83A71C8-E25C-485B-A5F5-39D69973CCFA@microsoft.com...
>> >> >> > OK. Back to my original question about the Add Printer icon
>> >> >> > disappearing
>> >> >> > randomly and printers already installed disappearing randomly.
>> >> >> > Happens
>> >> >> > on
>> >> >> > different computers with different logins (roaming user profiles)
>> >> >> > at
>> >> >> > different times. For esample, User 1 could log onto one computer
>> >> >> > and
>> >> >> > be
>> >> >> > able
>> >> >> > to add a printer when User 2 on that same computer couldn't add a
>> >> >> > printer.
>> >> >> > Then User 1 wouldn't be able to add a printer on another
>> >> >> > computer.
>> >> >> > Never
>> >> >> > consistent. There's no problem printing--if the printer is there,
>> >> >> > it
>> >> >> > can
>> >> >> > print fine.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > "Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> Version 13 will work for XP clients. To get the latest version
>> >> >> >> (you
>> >> >> >> have
>> >> >> >> to
>> >> >> >> have this for any Vista clients), just download and install the
>> >> >> >> latest
>> >> >> >> HP
>> >> >> >> LJ
>> >> >> >> 4345 driver.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> this policy does not remove the Add Printer icon. If you think
>> >> >> >> printers
>> >> >> >> should be listed in the printers folder and they are not, the
>> >> >> >> spooler
>> >> >> >> service is not running or you are running a really old version
>> >> >> >> of
>> >> >> >> Lantastic.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> gpedit.msc
>> >> >> >> Configuration
>> >> >> >> Admin templates
>> >> >> >> Control Panel
>> >> >> >> Printers
>> >> >> >> Prevent addition of printers
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> --
>> >> >> >> Alan Morris
>> >> >> >> Windows Printing Team
>> >> >> >> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
>> >> >> >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
>> >> >> >> no
>> >> >> >> rights.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> "jelaine" <jelaine@cakmail.org> wrote in message
>> >> >> >> news:185B8752-E1AC-49C3-91E3-9EBC6903B204@microsoft.com...
>> >> >> >> > Found the hpbmini.dll file. It is version 1.0.0.13. How do I
>> >> >> >> > update
>> >> >> >> > it?
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> > What policy could disable the Add Printer function? I've spent
>> >> >> >> > hours
>> >> >> >> > pouring
>> >> >> >> > over our GPOs, but can't find anything that would cause it to
>> >> >> >> > disappear.
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> > I really appreciate your help.
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> > "Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> >> Policy restrictions can be enabled on the client so the Add
>> >> >> >> >> Printer
>> >> >> >> >> UI
>> >> >> >> >> will
>> >> >> >> >> not work.
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> hpbmini.dll on the print server
>> >> >> >> >> \windows\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> --
>> >> >> >> >> Alan Morris
>> >> >> >> >> Windows Printing Team
>> >> >> >> >> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
>> >> >> >> >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
>> >> >> >> >> confers
>> >> >> >> >> no
>> >> >> >> >> rights.
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> "jelaine" <jelaine@cakmail.org> wrote in message
>> >> >> >> >> news:C805CA54-0778-4C52-ADCF-2C91584F5D92@microsoft.com...
>> >> >> >> >> > Thanks for the information. Two questions: 1. Would a
>> >> >> >> >> > corrupt
>> >> >> >> >> > spooler
>> >> >> >> >> > problem
>> >> >> >> >> > cause the Add Printer icon to disappear or if it is there,
>> >> >> >> >> > result
>> >> >> >> >> > in
>> >> >> >> >> > the
>> >> >> >> >> > message saying it cannot run due to restrictions placed on
>> >> >> >> >> > this
>> >> >> >> >> > computer?
>> >> >> >> >> > 2.
>> >> >> >> >> > all our printers are HP. But I can't find the file
>> >> >> >> >> > hpbmini.dll
>> >> >> >> >> > on
>> >> >> >> >> > the
>> >> >> >> >> > few
>> >> >> >> >> > computers I have checked. Where would it be located. Could
>> >> >> >> >> > the
>> >> >> >> >> > fact
>> >> >> >> >> > that
>> >> >> >> >> > it
>> >> >> >> >> > is missing be the problem?
>> >> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> >> > "Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:
>> >> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> >> >> The spooler on the client. Normally caused when print
>> >> >> >> >> >> drivers
>> >> >> >> >> >> corrupt
>> >> >> >> >> >> the
>> >> >> >> >> >> memory in the spooler. A "bad" driver will free memory,
>> >> >> >> >> >> then
>> >> >> >> >> >> later
>> >> >> >> >> >> reference it. If another driver has store memory at the
>> >> >> >> >> >> free
>> >> >> >> >> >> location,
>> >> >> >> >> >> this
>> >> >> >> >> >> can cause the driver to fail and terminate the spooler.
>> >> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> >> Also if you have any HP printers make sure you are not
>> >> >> >> >> >> using
>> >> >> >> >> >> version
>> >> >> >> >> >> 19
>> >> >> >> >> >> of
>> >> >> >> >> >> hpbmini.dll. HP fixed the problem in version 20.
>> >> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> >> --
>> >> >> >> >> >> Alan Morris
>> >> >> >> >> >> Windows Printing Team
>> >> >> >> >> >> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
>> >> >> >> >> >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
>> >> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
>> >> >> >> >> >> confers
>> >> >> >> >> >> no
>> >> >> >> >> >> rights.
>> >> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> >> "jelaine" <jelaine@cakmail.org> wrote in message
>> >> >> >> >> >> news:97034DE0-AB60-4AFD-8C69-83AC2D0369C5@microsoft.com...
>> >> >> >> >> >> > Why would this occur randomly? It doesn't seem to matter
>> >> >> >> >> >> > what
>> >> >> >> >> >> > computer
>> >> >> >> >> >> > (we
>> >> >> >> >> >> > use cloned images, so the drivers are the same) or what
>> >> >> >> >> >> > user
>> >> >> >> >> >> > (we
>> >> >> >> >> >> > use
>> >> >> >> >> >> > roaming
>> >> >> >> >> >> > user profiles)--sometimes printers are fine, sometimes
>> >> >> >> >> >> > they
>> >> >> >> >> >> > are
>> >> >> >> >> >> > not.
>> >> >> >> >> >> > User
>> >> >> >> >> >> > A
>> >> >> >> >> >> > can log onto computer 1 and it is fine, User B can log
>> >> >> >> >> >> > onto
>> >> >> >> >> >> > computer
>> >> >> >> >> >> > 2
>> >> >> >> >> >> > and
>> >> >> >> >> >> > be
>> >> >> >> >> >> > fine, User C log onto computer 3 and have a problem.
>> >> >> >> >> >> > They
>> >> >> >> >> >> > can
>> >> >> >> >> >> > switch
>> >> >> >> >> >> > around
>> >> >> >> >> >> > and User C is fine, Computer 3 is fine, but User A may
>> >> >> >> >> >> > have
>> >> >> >> >> >> > a
>> >> >> >> >> >> > problem
>> >> >> >> >> >> > on
>> >> >> >> >> >> > Computer 2.
>> >> >> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> >> >> > How would I detect a problem with the spooler? I assume
>> >> >> >> >> >> > you
>> >> >> >> >> >> > mean
>> >> >> >> >> >> > the
>> >> >> >> >> >> > spooler
>> >> >> >> >> >> > on the print server. It seems to be working fine as
>> >> >> >> >> >> > people
>> >> >> >> >> >> > aren't
>> >> >> >> >> >> > losing
>> >> >> >> >> >> > print jobs.
>> >> >> >> >> >> >