Network printer offline - But it's not!!!!

Hi all! I'm stumped this morning. Got a laptop with Win95B & Novell client. I have access to my NT4 domain & see all my servers. I try to install a printer which is on my NT server, I can see the server it's on & also see the printer itself, but when I go to add the printer, I get the message "Network printer is currently offline" The printer itself is online & functional & all the NT workstations as well as the few 95 laptops we have are printing fine. I have the microsoft client installed as well at "file & print sharing" service. I tried to connect to other printers with same result. I'm just having trouble with this laptop. Maybe my coffee wasn't strong enough this morning but I'm at a lost right now. :confused: Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Is the right queue being used in the printer properties? Type it in if necessary. Does the logged in user have rights to print to that queue? Has this worked before without any trouble?

Macgyver, it's the right queue. I used "browse" to get the print queue directly & also typed it in manually "\\servername\printername" but same result. The user has rights to print to this queue. Also, this is the first time trying to get this laptop to print on our network. Other win95 laptops with novell client don't have this problem. :confused: More info...I can ping the printers with no problems

This is going to sound really stupid, but go to Printers in Control Panel, right click on the offending printer, and make sure "Work Offline" is NOT checked.

The other thing I can think of is reinstalling the Novell client32 software. You said you had both Netware and Microsoft clients for Netware installed? Maybe they don't get along with each other...

I can't even get to the point where I have a printer icon created, so, no there is no "work offline" issue. I downloaded the latest Netware client (v3.3). When I try to install it, it says the version already installed is more recent??? I must admit that I rarely touch novell here, this is an exception. So I'm still at a lost right now. I will now pack up the laptop & I will be leaving soon to enjoy the weekend. I will continue pondering this on tuesday morning. Anyways, thanks Macgyver for the input so far & I will be looking forward to any more help you or anyone else can give me. Have a good long weekend! :D ;)

In the Novell client install directory, there should be an ADMIN subdirectory. The program UNC32.exe in there is what you use to uninstall the client. Then you can reinstall it. I'm guessing a corrupted Client install...

I ran unc32.exe & got a gpf. Rebooted in safe mode & it uninstalled correctly. I now try to run the client setup.exe & always get "setup caused general protection fault in module setup.exe..." Even in safe mode & nothing else running, I get this error. I searched the Novell knowledge base with no success. So again, I'm siphoning your Novell expertise & hope you have some ideas about this. :(

At this point, I would frankly get out my trusty drive image CD with Norton Ghost and start over. I realize that may not be an option in your particular case, but I'm stumped, Jay. My thinking at this point is that it is a problem with Windows 95 and NOT the Novell Client. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

I agree with you that there is probably something flaky with Win95 itself. I'm going to see what my options are & if I can reload a clean image, that's what I'll do. Thanks a lot Macgyver for all your help! ;)

Hi guys !

Sorry to catch up on this so late in your discussions, but I just started my new job on tuesday and I'm running around a bit... ;)

Jay, your problem sound so familiar its scary.

You wouldnt be by any chance working at Hy$%o Qc?

I need to know:

1- What is the print server Netware ver (4.11 or 5)
2- What is the user's login server Netware ver (3.12, 4.11 or 5x)
3- What is the FIRST client (Windows or Netware)

4- Is IPX correctly loaded on this contraption ?

Dan

Hey guys, it finally works! For the initial problem, it was definitely the novell client which was corrupted but I was unable to reinstall the client as you know. It was the Netmanage NFS client which was causing the gpf's during the client install. I had to remove the NFS client & I was then able to reinstall my netware client. I then installed my NT printers without a hitch. Thanks again guys for the input. By the way, Drone, happy to hear you found a new job. Congrats! Also, just to let you know, I don't work for Hydro. https://forums.windrivers.com/ https://forums.windrivers.com/

[This message has been edited by jay015 (edited September 07, 2001).]

Thanks for the congrats. New job with better conditions and a light raise ! https://forums.windrivers.com/
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Yeah, I re-red the pm u sent me, so I know where u are.
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Glad it work for u, but reading the prob back, I was out in the left field. However, we had the exact probl @ hydr* that why I mention it.
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Now, back to my alcove.