Printer not working for normal users

ChatGPT said:

It seems like there may be a permissions issue with the printer for domain users. Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Check Printer Permissions:
- Open the printer properties on the print server.
- Navigate to the Security tab.
- Verify that the "Everyone" group has the necessary permissions (e.g. Print, Manage Printers).

2. Check Group Policy Settings:
- Run `gpresult /h report.html` on the client machine to generate a Group Policy report.
- Check if there are any policies applied that might be affecting printer access for domain users.
- Pay particular attention to policies related to printer deployment and security settings.

3. Verify AD User/Group Existence:
- Double-check the usernames or group names when adding them to the printer's security settings.
- Ensure that the users/groups actually exist in Active Directory.
- Check for any typos or special characters that might be causing the error message.

4. Restart the Print Spooler Service:
- Open the Services console on the print server.
- Locate the "Print Spooler" service and restart it.
- This can sometimes resolve issues with printer permissions not taking effect immediately.

5. Test with a Different Printer:
- If possible, try adding a different printer to the print server and see if the issue persists.
- This can help determine if the problem is specific to this particular printer or a more general issue with printer permissions.

6. Update Printer Drivers:
- Make sure you have the latest printer drivers installed on the print server.
- Outdated or incompatible drivers can sometimes cause printing issues.

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, please provide more details about your environment, such as the Windows Server version, printer make and model, and any other relevant information that might help further diagnose the problem.

Click to expand...

Additional Troubleshooting Steps:​

1. Remove and Re-add the Printer to the Server:
   • Sometimes, the printer installation on the server can get corrupted. Remove the printer from the Print Management console, then re-add it.
   • Steps:
     1. Open Print Management (printmanagement.msc) on the server.
     2. Find your HP printer under Printers, right-click it, and select Remove Printer.
     3. Reinstall the printer using updated drivers.
2. Reinstall or Update HP Universal Print Drivers:
   • Incompatible or outdated drivers could be causing this issue. The HP Universal Print Driver (UPD) is a reliable choice for many HP printers.
   • Steps:
     1. Download the latest UPD for PCL6 or PostScript from the HP website.
     2. During installation, select "Dynamic Mode" or "Traditional Mode," depending on your environment.
     3. Assign this driver to the HP LaserJet 4250dtn in the printer properties on the server.
3. Test Printing from Another Domain Admin Account:
   • Try printing from another domain admin and compare the behavior with a standard domain user. If it works for admin but fails for standard users, the issue is likely permission-related.
4. Enable Printer Auditing for Logs:
   • If discrepancies remain, enable Print Auditing to monitor what happens when normal users try printing.
   • Steps:
     1. Go to the Security tab in the printer properties.
     2. Click Advanced, then Auditing.
     3. Add groups like Everyone or specific domain users and allow auditing for "Print" permissions.
     4. Check the Security logs in the Event Viewer for any errors or denied access attempts (Eventvwr.msc → Security Logs → Filter for "Print").
5. Check Print Isolation Mode:
   • Ensure that Printer Driver Isolation is enabled for the HP LaserJet 4250dtn.
   • Steps:
     1. Open Print Management.
     2. Right-click your printer driver in Print Servers > Drivers.
     3. Choose Set Driver Isolation and select Isolated.
6. Verify and Reset User-Specific Print Permissions:
   • Sometimes, permissions at the user or group level can conflict.
   • Steps:
     1. On the server, go to the printer’s Security tab.
     2. For testing, temporarily grant Everyone full permissions (Print, Manage Printers, Manage Documents).
     3. If it works, narrow the permissions to specific groups like Domain Users.
7. Test the Spooler and Print Path:
   • Some older HP printers can face compatibility issues with newer Windows Servers due to changes in the spooler.
   • Disable spooling:
     1. Right-click your printer → Properties → Advanced Tab.
     2. Select Print directly to the printer instead of Spool print documents.
     3. Test if it works for normal users.
8. Driver Isolation Issues with HP Printers:
   • HP printers sometimes have driver dependencies that conflict with Windows. You can try using a Generic/Text Only Driver for testing purposes:
     • Go to Add Printer Wizard → Select Generic/Text Only Driver.
     • Map this "printer" to your HP device and test printing basic text files. If successful, roll back to your preferred drivers with updated settings.

If the Problem Persists:​

• HP Firmware Updates:
  Check if there’s a firmware update available for the HP LaserJet 4250dtn. Older firmware could cause compatibility issues with Windows Server 2019.
• Consider Alternate Testing:
  Borrowing another printer temporarily (even from another office) could help confirm if the issue is isolated to your current model.
• Windows Print Management Queue Reset:
  • Completely clear the spooler queue, and reset the print server configuration using:
    
    Code:

     net stop spooler del %systemroot%\System32\spool\PRINTERS\* /Q net start spooler

    This clears backed-up spooler jobs which might be choking user printing permissions.

If None of the Above Work:​