Unable to print to an iPrint printer and roaming user profiles.

(Last modified: 28Dec2005)

This document (10082165) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

fact

Novell NetWare 6.0 Support Pack 3

Novell iPrint

Novell iPrint client version 1.10.00

symptom

Unable to print to an iPrint printer and roaming user profiles.

Error: The printer driver is not installed on this computer. Some printer properties will not be accessible unless you install the printer driver. Do you want to install the printer driver now?"

The Add Printer driver wizard is presented and the user has the ability to add printer drivers.

Error:  Windows cannot print due to a problem with the current printer setup.  Try one or more of the following.....

Troubleshooting indicated that a registry key was being held open by the iPrint client.

cause

Roaming profiles are enabled, iPrint user printers are enabled, and the printer driver that was installed on the first workstation isn't present on the second workstation.  Additionally, a registry key was being left open in the user's hive preventing the user's profile from being saved to the network.  Read the risks associated with iPrint user printers in TID 10085484.

fix

The problem is resolved with iPrint client version 2.01.00 (NIPP.EXE dated 01JUL2003), or later.  NOTE:  This version of the iPrint client is expected to ship with NetWare 6.5.  This version of the iPrint client may not be available until NetWare 6.5 ships.

NOTE:  There were two problems with the iPrint client version 1.10 and roaming profiles.  The first problem is if the profile saved to the network, when the profile came down on a workstation that never had the printer driver before, the printer would not work.  The second problem is that a registry key would be held open by the iPrint client.  This second problem would prevent the user's profile from saving to the network.  Both of these issues are resolved with the above mentioned iPrint client.

Additionally, even with the latest iPrint client, roaming profiles were not being saved to the network.  Troubleshooting indicated that the printer driver was keeping a registry key in the user's hive open, thus preventing the user's roaming profile to be saved to the network.  If you have the iPrint client version 2.01.00 dated 01JUL2003 or later and you are using Hewlett Packard printer drivers, please refer to http://www.hp.com/pond/ljbeta for a list of beta printer drivers that resolve roaming profile issues.  As of this writing, these printer drivers are likely roll from beta to released later this year, possibly starting in September 2003.  This September 2003 release date is tentative and Hewlett Packard may change their release date at the own descretion.  For questions on when these drivers will be move from beta to released, please contact Hewlett Packard.

note

STEPS TO DUPLICATE:

1.) Create several printer agents with various printer drivers. Make sure none of these printer drivers have ever been installed onto any of the workstations. Make sure the printers are IPP enabled.

2.) You need three Windows 2000 or XP workstations (WS1, WS2, WS3). On workstation WS1 create a share called PROFILES. Create a directory in that share called TEST1.

3.) Create user TEST1 on all workstations. Make that user Administrator equivalent. Make the passwords all the same.

4.) Setup roaming profiles. To setup roaming profiles, do the following on workstations WS2 and WS3:

a.) Right click on "My Computer" and select "Manage".
b.) Click on "Local Users and Groups" and expand it out. Click on the "Users" folder. You will see TEST1 user listed.
c.) Right click on user TEST1 and select "Properties".
d.) On TEST1 Properties page, select the "Profile" tab at the top.
e.) Under "User profile", type in the "Profile path" as the following: \\WS1\PROFILES\TEST1 . Click on the "OK" button and close the Microsoft Computer Management Console.
f.) Make sure you repeat the process on both WS2 and WS3.

5.) Go to \\SERVER\SYS\LOGIN\IPPDOCS\IPRINT.INI and set AllowUserPrinters = 2.

6.) Install the iPrint client on WS2 and WS3 workstations. Shut down both workstations.

7.) Boot up WS2 and login as user TEST1. Go to the server's iPrint map page and install a few printers. Shutdown the workstation. The roaming profile should be written to WS1 when the workstation shuts down.

8.) Boot up WS3 and login as user TEST1. Go to Start | Settings | Printers and look at the printers installed on the workstation. The printers will be listed. Right click on one of the printers and select "Properties" and you will receive the following error:

"Error: The printer driver is not installed on this computer. Some printer properties will not be accessible unless you install the printer driver. Do you want to install the printer driver now?"

If you select "Yes", you will be given the Microsoft driver selection. If you select "No", the printer opens up. If you try to do a test page, the test page fails because there is no driver installed. If you try to print from an application (MS Word), the application will not print.

document

Document Title: Unable to print to an iPrint printer and roaming user profiles.
Document ID: 10082165
Solution ID: NOVL88645
Creation Date: 15Apr2003
Modified Date: 28Dec2005
Novell Product Class:NetWare

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