Unable to add printer that works on other PC

Birk · Oct 14, 2024

XxXxX: yes, I've tried adding it manually. That's just one of the ways I get to the original error I posted at top.

neemobeer: yes, the troubleshooter "couldn't identify the problem".

spapakons: manually creating a TCP/IP port fails with the first error message I posted.

spapakons · Oct 14, 2024

Maybe because the printer IP is already used. Try completely removing the printer and its software and restart before adding it again.

dacrone · Oct 14, 2024

run powershell as admin:

Code:

Get-WindowsCapability -Name "Print.Management.Console*" -Online | Add-WindowsCapability -Online

try again to launch Print Management

Birk · Oct 14, 2024

I just spent 2 hours online with a Microsoft person who ran all sorts of tests etc. on my system. None of them worked. His final reply was to contact the printer manufacturer and reset the printer - whatever that means.

Since the printer works fine with the other PC on my network I'm not going to do that.

dacrone: I tried your suggestion and got the "Running" response, but there doesn't seem to be anything called PrintManagemnt on my system.

I found a way to display the printer drivers on my system, and the correct driver is there:

So I'm about convinced that there is nothing wrong with the printer - rather there's some problem with a TCP/IP on my system. I'm real close to starting a Repair install.

dacrone · Oct 14, 2024

what happens when you browse to your printer's ip in your web browser?

Birk · Oct 14, 2024

I get the full page of printer status. The printer is a-ok. It's my PC that is borked.

spapakons · Oct 14, 2024

If the printer has a web interface, browsing its IP should load it, otherwise you will see an access denied error. Most modern printers have a web interface. Again, you are trying to fix it. Don't waste your time, remove it and install it again, don't try to fix it.

dacrone · Oct 14, 2024

my point there was whether or not your pc can see the printer. if it can browse to the web interface then its good.

spapakons said:
Again, you are trying to fix it.

pretty sure OP said they cant connect to the printer on this pc, which means its not there to remove... @Birk am i correct?

Birk · Oct 14, 2024

If it were that simple I would have done that long ago. When I try to add it I get the message shown in my first post.

Birk · Oct 14, 2024

dacrone: yes, you are correct. I posted a pic of Device Manager earlier - there is no printer there. So there is nothing to delete.

XxXxX · Oct 14, 2024

this is just a thought.
have you checked the firewall to see if the printers IP isnt blocked.

as stated just a thought, best of luck, Steve ..

spapakons · Oct 14, 2024

You can try to add it manually with a temporary port, such as LPT1: or even FILE: just to have the printer installed. Now you can try to create the Standard TCP/IP port with the IP of the printer. If you can do that, simply open Printer Properties and change the port to the Standard TCP/IP port you created. If you cannot do that from your account for some reason (local group policy?) you can enable the built-in Administrator account and do it from there. Open a Command Prompt as Admin and type this code to enable the account:

net user administrator /active:yes

Switch user to Administrator, install the printer and then logoff and login to your current user. Type this code to disable the Administrator again:

net user administrator /active:no

dacrone · Oct 14, 2024

you're on Win 11 Home, huh? thatd be why no print management comes up. ok lets try this route -

Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Add Printer > Wait for it to scan > Select "Isn't Listed" link that populates below devices > Local or network with manual settings (bottom option) > Create new port - Standard TCP/IP > type in Printer's IP and whatever you want to name the port > choose Generic for the driver from the dropdown.

spapakons · Oct 14, 2024

I don't remember for 23H2, but trying to open Devices and Printers in 24H2 opens the modern Printers and Scanners setting. If it does so, see my instructions in the earlier post how to create the port.

Birk · Oct 14, 2024

Nope - the system doesn't work like that. After Add printer or scanner the system does not find anything, so I get Add manually. After that, if I add my printer's IP address, I get the error message in my first post. I can't get to anything having to do with TCP/IP because the code for that (the TCP/IP wizard, whatever that is) just isn't there.

dacrone · Oct 14, 2024

Birk said:
After Add printer or scanner the system does not find anything, so I get Add manually

can you post a screenshot of this window?

Birk · Oct 14, 2024

I'm going to start a Repair install now.

dacrone · Oct 14, 2024

Birk said:
I'm going to start a Repair install now.

are you on 24h2? or 23h2? first post says 23h2... so control panel still works for this:

Birk · Oct 14, 2024

The Repair install fixed the problem. (Of course I have no idea how it did that.) When I got the system back my printer was there and it printed a test page just fine.

I guess I should have gone to the Repair install right after I realized that my problem was a very obscure one. I've got to hand it to MS - they have updated the Repair process so it works quite simply. Of course I'll have to do some cleanup, fix up my startup apps, etc. But it looks like doing this will be a lot simpler than when I did a Repair a few years ago.

Thanks to everyone who made a suggestion - I did learn somethings from all that.

Birk · Oct 15, 2024

One thing to note: after the Repair install was done, even though my system ran OK it would not boot. The error message said the BCD was incorrect. So I fixed that by booting Macrium and using it's "Fix boot problems" function. After that the system booted fine.

After all that I remember I had to do the same thing the last time I did a Repair install - that was 3 - 4 years ago.

Unable to add printer that works on other PC

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XxXxX: yes, I've tried adding it manually. That's just one of the ways I get to the original error I posted at top.​

neemobeer: yes, the troubleshooter "couldn't identify the problem".​

spapakons: manually creating a TCP/IP port fails with the first error message I posted.​

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dacrone: I tried your suggestion and got the "Running" response, but there doesn't seem to be anything called PrintManagemnt on my system.​

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dacrone: yes, you are correct. I posted a pic of Device Manager earlier - there is no printer there. So there is nothing to delete.​

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XxXxX: yes, I've tried adding it manually. That's just one of the ways I get to the original error I posted at top.

neemobeer: yes, the troubleshooter "couldn't identify the problem".

spapakons: manually creating a TCP/IP port fails with the first error message I posted.

dacrone: I tried your suggestion and got the "Running" response, but there doesn't seem to be anything called PrintManagemnt on my system.

dacrone: yes, you are correct. I posted a pic of Device Manager earlier - there is no printer there. So there is nothing to delete.