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Thread: Vista - default printer doesn't stay as default

  1. #1
    Freddie Kang Guest

    Vista - default printer doesn't stay as default

    I have set up several printers and have one network printer assigned as
    'default' printer. I have noticed that this 'default' status for this printer
    does not remain so after I shut down and reboot. It seems to default to the
    Fax printer. I then have to reset the chosen printer as 'default' in order to
    print. This happens not everytime I shut down - sometimes the default printer
    stays as default.

    Anyone have similar experiences? Solution to the problem?

  2. #2
    Cari \(MS-MVP\) Guest

    Re: Vista - default printer doesn't stay as default

    It will default to the first one it finds after logon, so in your case, I'm
    thinking the logon to the network is taking longer, therefore it finds the
    fax first.

  3. #3
    Freddie Kang Guest

    Re: Vista - default printer doesn't stay as default

    Thanks for your info. Yes, the fax is first in line amongst the printers. Is
    there a way I can make the default printer stay? Yes I do notice it doesn't
    happen everytime, so it might happen when my system takes longer to logon to
    the network. Can I rename the printer so it appears first on the list? Other
    solutions?

  4. #4
    Cari \(MS-MVP\) Guest
    The only real solution would be to disable the fax printer which probably
    isn't much use if you occasionally need it.

    I am having this same problem. This was not an issue in Windows XP- when you
    selected a default printer it stayed the default printer. Did you ever find
    a solution to this problem in Windows Vista?

    It was defaulting to a fax printer, so I deleted that. Now
    it goes to Microsoft Docuemnt image writer. This is a very annoying problem
    that is new in Vista.

  5. #5
    LambChop Guest
    Do you have any issues printing to the printer that you want to be the
    default? Do you have outlook and if so can you print out of outlook to the
    printer that will not stay the default? Is the printer that will not stay
    the default a networked printer or a locally attached printer?

    My History with this issue (or what I believe is the same issue you're
    having.):
    I'm having an issue and it has to do with Office products and vista. Office
    products can't print to a networked printer. I've moved the que's to a 2008
    server and that fixed 99% of my issues but I still have one that can't ever
    print toe the 2008 que's.

    I am having the "Can't set a default printer problem" as well. It comes
    into play with me, not on a network, but all the time. The major issue,
    as I saw posted somewhere else here, is with programs like Adobe Reader
    (Acrobat) that only print to a default printer. In other words I can't
    print PDFs. That is a real PITA as I
    am a REALTOR and PDFs are my WORLD. I did see an answer by "Alan" that
    mentioned some "HKEY-BLAH BLAH BLAH," But there was no info about what
    to do with it. I am not a registry savvy guy. Its a new machine and the
    manufacturer was no help either! This has been going on for several
    months. Should I just go buy an Apple?

    I had this same problem and realized that it is caused when I RDP into
    my vista box. This is due to new RDP 6.1 client default behavior. You
    get RDP 6.1 with Vista SP1. A simple workaround is to uncheck the
    "Printers" box in the RDP client options under "RDP -> Options -> Local
    Resources"

  6. #6
    brbgtgp Guest
    Changing a User's Default Printer in the Registry
    See Article ID: 156212

    HKCU \Software \Microsoft \Windows NT \CurrentVersion \Windows

    Device Reg_SZ Data (here you make the device changes.)

    Note: You will see the Devices folder under the CurrentVersion with the list
    of printer devices installed, their spooler and connection type.

    So I encountered same thing today, unable to print acrobat reader.

    There are a few things you should look for... This applies from win2K until
    vista
    HKCU\Software\Microsoft \Windows NT \Current Version \Windows

    If you do not have the Windows key, borrow from a friend.
    Right-click then Export the key...
    Go to original workstation then double-click on printer.reg this will apply
    the tree into the hive.

    or Copy below into a notepad.exe and rename printer.reg
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows]
    "DebugOptions"="2048"
    "Documents"=""
    "DosPrint"="no"
    "Load"=""
    "NetMessage"="no"
    "NullPort"="None"
    "Programs"="com exe bat pif cmd"
    "device"="Any printer name1,winspool,Ne01:"

    OK. So let's move on to changing values. Let's look into Devices or
    PrinterPorts
    Verify your device listed.

    example
    Any printer name4 REG_SZ winspool, Ne03;
    Any printer name3 REG_SZ winspool, Ne02;
    Any printer name2 REG_SZ winspool, Ne01;
    Any printer name1 REG_SZ winspool, Ne00;

    In the windows key, right-click "device" then modify...
    in Value data field, enter below
    Any printer name1,winspool,Ne01:

    Where it says "any printer name1" look into your system devices and pick one
    that applies to you. (please do not stick your head inside the computer.)

    ALT+F4 to close

  7. #7
    sephoratrading Guest
    I had the same problem. I suspected it was the remote
    desktop connection I just never looked into it until now. I remoted in
    to my home machine from my laptop and it removed the default printer
    setting from my home machine. I am assuming that unchecking the
    "Printers" box under the Local Resources tab for the extended options
    should do the trick.

    It is most likely setting the default printer for the remote machine to
    the default printer on the remoting machine, but doesn't seem to return
    the default printer setting when you log off. This might not be your
    problem but it could help others.

    As for Cari's responses, I do not believe Windows Vista will
    automatically select a default printer on boot. If one was not already
    selected for some reason you will just not have a default and you will
    need to specify a printer manually. This may cause some programs to not
    be able to print until you pick a default printer. There is no reason
    that the default printer should change every time Vista loads though she
    speaks as if it is intended functionality. I would say reinstall all
    your printers and set the default again. Also keep an eye on installed
    programs that may be resetting the default for you as part of their boot
    check. Perhaps the drivers for the fax machine, or a software utility
    or suite that came with the fax machine has a "feature" to automatically
    set it to default.

    I had a similar problem with 3 client machines. Long story short: it was a
    corrupt NTuser.DAT file which we renamed .old and replaced with the
    ntuser.dat file from the default user folder. This was a pain in that the
    profile had to be setup from scratch again but at least default remains
    default at the end of the day. Anyway, this was my experience after working
    the issue w/ MS support for 10+ hours. If anyone has found a better fix I'd
    be much obliged.

  8. #8
    altertek Guest

    Re: Vista - default printer doesn't stay as default

    Sometimes when you install a network printer it will not register a IP
    port in the server config on your machine. What you will have to do is
    go to the printer setup page and anywhere on the screen right click and
    select server properties. Then go to ports and select add new port, make
    sure you select add an IP port and then type in the IP address of the
    printers location. After the setup of the port you should be able to
    change the selected printer to default and it will not change. This is
    for network printers only.

  9. #9
    William McFarland Guest
    My network printer has an IP Port yet the default printer still changes from
    this printer to the fax on re-boot. Deleting the fax printer causes the
    default to change to Microsoft Document imaging. Is anyone aware of another
    work around or solution?

    Wa a solution for this problem every posted?

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