Printer keeps Going Away

[proaudioguy]

X60 Tablet
Vista Business
Network Printer HP 7300 All in one

The Vista print Driver is installed and the printer works. At some point later It'll go to print and it's gone. I've had to reinstall and discover the printer every time I need to print something. When I reinstall from windows Add printer wizard the driver is there so it just reuses it. I only just discovered that, which has made it easier but I really want the printer to stay put.
There is an error message that may be related that comes up occasionally, It says Windows Host Process has quit to paraphrase. HP is mentioned.

[RonS]

There is a reliability package out that I'm pretty sure fixes that problem. Look here

[Kyocera]

there could be an issue with the driver, there may be a newer version, check the HP site. We have had some issues with our print drivers and Vista as well. In the past the HP web site has been a pretty good source for FAQ's , support & downloads, etc. When the driver disappears try right clicking on a blank portion in the window print folder and select server properties and click on the drivers tab, if the driver is still there you can also add it back instead of reinstalling from scratch. HTH somewhat

I just read through the info for the compatibility and reliablilty issues mentioned by RonS. There is a note about the "printer spooler service stops unexpectedly" this will cause you to have a completely blank printers folder, is that what happens or are the other drivers still visible. If the printer folder is completely blank restart the spooler service in the admin tools>services>print spooler.

[proaudioguy]

I just read through the info for the compatibility and reliablilty issues mentioned by RonS. There is a note about the "printer spooler service stops unexpectedly" this will cause you to have a completely blank printers folder, is that what happens or are the other drivers still visible. If the printer folder is completely blank restart the spooler service in the admin tools>services>print spooler.

The other print drivers are still there but none of them are real printers. FAX, PDF, One Note, and XPS (whatever that is).

I failed to mention it's a network printer wired to my wireless AP. I can always access it via IP so I know the printer is online. The XP machines have no issues with it.

[GomJabbar]

I'm curious. Once you lose your printer, if you reboot, does it come back? Or do you lose your printer after you reboot or after going into Standby?

[Kyocera]

Check if Folder Options>view>automatically search for network folders and printers is checked.

I usually uncheck it, for a specific reason. But on a default windows install it is normally checked.

[proaudioguy]

So far so good.
When it was gone it was after going off this network. Reboot would not make a difference either way.

I installed both of those updates. I just checked after being away and it said the printer was off line. I was able to put it back online easily. No reinstall needed as the printer didn't disappear.

I'll keep you posted.

[spwhiting@]

My HP 5180 All in one printer is used with Vista Premium on a T60 (6371CTO) configfured through a Netgear wireles system also 'disappears' from the print folder in Contorl Panel. Norton 360 is also installed and cleans/optimizes the disk automatically every day. The HP 5180 disappears about once a week. There are two other printers listed in the print folder that always remain in the folder. Rebooting does not bring back the HP printer. HP website did a check on the HP 5180 printer drivers and stated they are up to date. I did not see any HP FAQs relevant to the disappearance of the printer drivers. I have tried to use ADD PRINTER in the print folder, which lists the drivers for the 5180, but nothing happens when FINISH is selected at the end of the installation.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Kyocera]

Worst case scenario, (i've done this with customers we have who have older software applications for a specific bussiness they have or sometimes to solve weird PCL issues with different printers) use a windows driver through the add print wizard, find one that is close to your model, i.e. if it's a laser printer use an HP laserJet driver, if it's a ink jet use an ink jet, etc. etc. Point the driver to the IP address of the machine, you may not get the same driver interface but will still be able to print with the stripped down version.

Another thing to try is IF you are pulling the driver from another machine, i.e installing the printer as an actual network printer, (RJ45 from back of printer to RJ45 jack in switch/hub/router/wall)connected (via USB/Parallel) to another computer([shared], esp if the other computer in this case is XP or the server is 2003/2000 etc.) or on a server, the first step in troubeshooting is to load the driver locally, this takes the possibility of driver compatibiity issues out of the loop.