Default Printer changes randomly
Eric Steel
Windows 2003 and all desktops are Windows XP SP2 and Office 2003, the vast
majority of the printers are HP Laserjet 5 or 4000's
For all users in all offices we set their printers up with a login script
example: wn.AddWindowsPrinterConnection "\\Atlanta5\tweedledee"
The Script sets the printers and leaves them as persistent connections. The
users manually set their default printer.
In our Atlanta office there are about 70 people connecting to 33 network
printers this way. However, periodically users in the Atlanta office
complain that their Default Printer will change by itself. I have heard from
users in other offices having this problem, but it appears to occur most
frequently in Atlanta.
There appears to be no rhyme or reason for it. It is not happening to all
users. Some users have it happen more often than others. The "new" default
printer is not always the same. A user can be using her printer for weeks
and not have it change once, then have it change twice in one day. It has
also occurred that a user will print one job, it prints fine then a few
minutes later print again and the default printer will have changed in
between.
There are no errors in either the local event log or on the event log of the
server. I set up another print server, installed the latest drivers on it
and moved some users to it. Still users on both servers will randomly change
their Default Printer.
It has happened to me too. I will go to print and my default printer will
have changed by itself. My printer is a HP LaserJet 4+ with an integrated
NIC card connected to a small GIG switch on my desk connecting to our GIG
backbone. My computer and the printer are generally the only two devices
plugged into the local switch.
Does anyone have any ideas why a Default Printer would change by itself on
active well used connections.