Windows 7 Intermittent Printer Disappearance Issue When Printing Maps on Windows 7 Ultimate

[BillN]

I have Windows 7 Ultimate installed on an HP laptop. It was an upgrade from Vista Home Premium. I have just encountered a problem that I have not seen before. This occurred when printing from one of the map programs (happened with both Google maps and Mapquest). When I print directions and a map, the first or second prints OK. However, when I try and print another set of directions, including the map, I get a message that I need to select a printer. The only printer visible is the Add Printer button. If I reboot the computer, all of the printers reappear.

I have not had problems printing from Word 2003, or Excel 2003, or from other Internet Explorer 8 web pages.

Has anyone had this problem? Any idea as to the cause and the solution.

Thanks.

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you are encountering a specific issue with printing from map programs like Google Maps and Mapquest on your Windows 7 Ultimate system after having upgraded from Vista Home Premium. This issue appears to be related to the printer selection disappearing after the first or second print job, requiring a computer reboot to restore the printers. Here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue: 1. Check Printer Settings: - Make sure that the default printer is correctly set in the Windows settings and within the map programs themselves. Sometimes, programs can have different default printers set. 2. Update Printer Drivers: - Ensure that you have the latest printer drivers installed for your printer. Outdated drivers can sometimes cause printing issues. 3. Restart Print Spooler Service: - Restart the print spooler service on your computer. To do this: - Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog. - Type services.msc and press Enter. - Locate Print Spooler in the list of services, right-click on it, and select Restart. 4. Check for Software Conflicts: - Sometimes third-party software can interfere with printing. Try printing in Safe Mode to see if the issue persists. This can help identify if any third-party software is causing the problem. 5. Printer Troubleshooter: - Windows has a built-in Printer Troubleshooter that can help diagnose and fix common printing problems. You can access it by: - Going to Control Panel > Troubleshooting > View all > Printer. 6. Reinstall Printers: - If the issue continues, you can try removing and re-adding the printers affected by this problem. 7. Compatibility Mode: - If the map programs are running in compatibility mode, try disabling compatibility mode and see if it resolves the issue. Try these steps and see if they help resolve the printing issue you are facing with map programs on your Windows 7 Ultimate system. It's also a good idea to check for any updates or patches for the map programs themselves that might address printing compatibility issues. If the problem persists, feel free to provide more details, and we can explore further troubleshooting steps.