Network printer problems

15 days ago I began to have problems with a network of 16 computers and 8 printers, all the computers stopped printing, basically a hp 1150c and a hp lazer jet 6P, I try to reinstall Windows 98, that solve the problem during 2 to 3 days, I also try to install one of the printers in a server Dell with NT 4.0, and the same thing happened, It worked for 2 days, I try to change the one wired and hub of 10/100 at 100/100 without any result, all the computers have mcafee antivirus with a connection dedicated to the Internet.

Does somebody have some idea?

Thanks <IMG SRC="smilies/frown.gif" border="0">

Are you running win98 on all the computers? Have you enabled the file and printer sharing on all.

Personally I do not care fro McAffee as far a a viruse protection, Too many glitches often after doing an update.

I recommend Nortons 2001 as a good virus protection.

I'm assuming that most of the printers are connected to individual computers?

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One thing I could see that stood out, Network Printers will not receive data at 100mbps typically. They only receive at 10. If you have made adjustments at the hub to get 100 only, you could have a problem.

Unless these printers are attached to individual PC's, then shared. Which case you have a Peer configuration problem that could be propagated by all having the same, incorrect, network properties. That would also explaining the network wide problem.

Please post again, let us know how everything is going, and if you still need help...Also, provide more information about the Network, OS's, how the printers are on the network, authentication...The more the better, less chance for 20 questions...

I've just dealt with a situation on my network involving an HP LaserJet printer that still had DHCP enabled (it got away from me <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0"> ).

So when IP renewal time came it caused the printer to load a different IP than what was intended for its queue and prevented output being sent to it from UNIX boxes.

Hope this helps.

Buy JetDirect print servers. Make a logical connection from the NT 4.0 server to each printer then share the printers. For a network of trustworthy users setup rights so users can delete hung jobs. I've found the NT 4.0 SP6 configuration to be fairly robust. If a job does hang in the server's queue you can just stop and start the spooler service and reset the jetdirect. I like to write a batch file with two lines "net stop spooler" and "Net start spooler", making sure there are no active jobs. I've had no trouble plugging JetDirects into 100MB hubs and switches.