Argh! All printers disappeared...

OK, all my printers have been working fine (HP PSC 1355, a Dymo 400 label printer and a Primera Disc Publisher printer) over USB.
However, I've been trying to get a friend's D-ink wireless USB adaptor to work. It didn't, which wasn't a surprise knowing D-Link....
Anyway, what I wasn't expecting was the software from the D-Link to seemingly screw up my G4 iBook. I now cannot use any of my printers as it would seem that none of the drivers are detected. I've reinstalled every bit of software possible and upgraded to 10.4.10 (I was running 10.4.9 before) but still no luck.
The printers show up in the system profile, and also in the printer utility list. But I can't actually add them as printers, and the drivers just cannot seem to be detected. Permissions have been repaired. I really cannot work out what is going on... anyone got any ideas?
Cheers
Jamie

Hi Jamie,
You seem to have done a fair bit to resolve this already. About the only other things I can suggest is to run the Reset Printing System, located in the Printer Setup Utility menu. This will reset a number of CUPS files and may require you to reinstall your drivers software before you can re-add them.
The only other thing is to try Fixamac's Printer Setup Repair utility. It may identify some issues with the backend modules and may even fix them...

Similar Messages

All printers disappeared after upgrade to Leopard

I made an upgrade to Leopard and all my production printers just disspeared under System preferences - print and fax.
It wasn't a big thing to reinstall 4 print drivers. Well, that is, not yet known what happened to my CS3's Acrobat 7's PDF printer yet. For the 3 others Xerox production RIPs, I just redid the install.
What I did is to use the new WINDOWS printer connector and this is great! It took me like 10 secs to set each of them. So easy and great improvements inside the printer installation. I've used the Xerox and Roland sites' PPD and there we go... all connected.
Great improvements but too bad they all dissapear after upgrade...

Hello Mac Experts,
I recently upgraded from Tiger to Leopard and I too am having this same issue. After my upgrade was completed, I checked my printers and noticed that all my network printers were gone. I have never perform an OS X upgrade before and this is my first attempt, although the upgrade was successful but I was a bit surprised that all the network printers that I have were gone.
For those us either in a small SOHO this is no big deal, however, if you're in a big environment where you have a lot of machines this would be a big problem and would create a lot of unnecessary work and time wasted.
Have any of you Mac experts perform an upgrade from Panther to Tiger? If so, did you loose all your network printers that you have configured in System Preferences > Print & Fax
Could this be a bug in Leopard????

Printers disappeared after upgrade to Mavericks

All printers disappeared from user account after upgrade to Mavericks from 10.6.8 by Migration Assistant.
The obvious question: How to migrate the printers?
I don't recall each individual printer setup and just want to move them over.

Hello Mac Experts,
I recently upgraded from Tiger to Leopard and I too am having this same issue. After my upgrade was completed, I checked my printers and noticed that all my network printers were gone. I have never perform an OS X upgrade before and this is my first attempt, although the upgrade was successful but I was a bit surprised that all the network printers that I have were gone.
For those us either in a small SOHO this is no big deal, however, if you're in a big environment where you have a lot of machines this would be a big problem and would create a lot of unnecessary work and time wasted.
Have any of you Mac experts perform an upgrade from Panther to Tiger? If so, did you loose all your network printers that you have configured in System Preferences > Print & Fax
Could this be a bug in Leopard????

Printers disappearing

I have an Intel iMac 2012 Mac 21.5 running OS 10.8.5. The printers keep disappearing from the list of printers. All printers or networked on the same segment and switch. The printers are networked with a static IP address and Bonjour. I have tried adding the printers by IP and by Bonjour. The printers will remain as an option for a day or two then disappear.
We have several other iMacs running OS 10.8.5 and connected to the printers and they do not lose the connection. Just this iMac. So the network and printer do not appear to be the problem.
Any ideas what to look for? Or what to remove and reinstall?

Hi,
Based on the description, we can try to enable the following policy setting to see if it helps:
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\System\Logon\ Always wait for the network at computer startup and logon
After applying the policy setting, we can try to re-logon the users to see if they can get the printers.
If the issue persists, we can try to run the following reg file to see if it helps:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Group Policy\{BC75B1ED-5833-4858-9BB8-CBF0B166DF9D}]
@="Printers Policy Processing"
"NoSlowLink"=dword:00000000
"NoBackgroundPolicy"=dword:00000000
"NoGPOListChanges"=dword:00000000
"BackgroundPriorityLevel"=dword:00000000
If yes, we can utilize group policy to deploy the reg file as a logon script for users.
Best regards,
Frank Shen
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Subscriber Support, contact [email protected]

Printers disappear from Print Management on the server itself

I have a server 2012 r2 print server. A short time ago all the printers disappeared from the print management view on the server itself. They are still showing in the ports view, I can still add a printer, and people can still print (though I
am getting many complaints that printing has become slow, not sure if that is related or not.) Any suggestions or ideas on what might be causing this would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
JR

Hi,
Please check if
KB2995388 was installed in that Windows Server 2012 R2. It may cause similar issues as reported in following thread.
Print
Management Console displays no printers after applying Windows Update for Windows Server 2012 R2 (KB2995388)
If any update, please feel free to let me know.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu

All printers missing from Print Management

Okay, so I have a weird issue. I am running Windows Server 2008 Standard SP1 on my local workstation and used to be able to fully administer all printers in our company via Print Management installed as a feature from Remote Server Administration Tools > Role Administration Tools > Print Services Tools. One day earlier this week, I lost this ability.
All printers literally disappeared. I can still see drivers, forms and ports, but absolutely no printers. However, within printers inside Print Management, I can still add a new printer although I cannot see it - but know that it has been added successfully by consoling the respective print server and tested it. I also am still able to see all deployed printers (via GP) and can still deploy those that have previously been deployed.
Nothing has changed in terms of security rights (I am a Domain Admin), firewall settings, or Windows Updates.
The print servers that I connect to are all on the same subnet, and are running Windows Server 2003 R2.
I've tried removing and re adding the Print Services Tools in Server Manager and tried updated Windows Media Services 2008 via this link.
I cannot find anything out on the web indicating a similar issue, so I am hoping someone on this forum may be able to help.
If this is a known issue, I must of overlooked the post, so please post the link for me.
Thank you,
Bob

Hi,
As far as I know, most printer object missing issue can be caused by the printer pruning. This feature is an thread running inside spoolsv.exe on the Domain Controller. It will periodically check if the printer object is valid. After trying several times, if the object always considered as invalid, DC will remove this object form AD.
To disable printer pruning, we can simply disable spooler service. The only impact is the printing function on DC is not available. But, all the client and printer server will not affected. Client can still search object in AD.
The following are two policy related to pruning:
1. On DC, run gpedit.msc and locate Computer configuration/Administrative Templates/Printers
2. Make sure all the pruning related policy is set to disabled
Disabled the policy "Allow pruning of published printers"
Enable the policy “Directory pruning interval”, and set the interval to Never
Regards,

Printers disappear

My question is similar to others but also different. About 2 weeks ago I did a clean re-install of Snow Leopard including all the updates. I have a Brother 5340D and an Epson 2880 printer and an Epson scanner. Printer drivers were updated and both working normally. They are not on any network - USB cables are plugged directly into the iMac port. All three show up in the System Profiler window indicating that they are indeed connected.
Yesterday both printers disappeared from all print dialogs and I cannot re-install them. The Print & Fax preference window is empty. When I click the "+" button the Add a Printer dialog appears. Both printers and the scanner show up here. When I click on one of the printers and choose Add a dialog pops up asking if I want to download and install software for the printer. When I say Install, Software Update goes out and updates the drivers and says "successful". Choosing add again repeats the process. Trying to reset the "printing system" by Option clicking the "+" button does nothing different.
Why is this happening? Do I have to reinstall Snow Leopard all over again?

Thanks, Eric. However I have tried this several times and as I said initially, this process does not work for me. Even though the link you sent is for Mountain Lion, I assume the process is similar. The "Set up a printer" link does not work. There are no printers in the list to begin with (see the screen shot). The system does appear to reset but trying to add the printers back repeats the process described above.

After installing mavericks on mac mini network printers disappeared

After installing Mavericks on my Mac Mini, all printers on the home wifi network disappeared and cannot get them back. Tried deleting and re-installing printers and all updates. Network does not see them from the Mac Mini. Is there some workaround or solution to this? Everything worked perfectly until the Mavericks upgrade.

Was there any evidence of a new or update printer driver at the Epson site for use with Mavericks OS X? Even if so, that may not be enough as the peripherial makers can be steps behind a new & different OS.
I have two Epson printers, one is an all-in-one WF845 (bought at 50% off) and an older Photo Stylus 820, this still makes great prints; both work wireless in different ways. However I have what are essentially antiques in both hardware and software.
Not sure if there are any third party drivers that could help as a fix or a patch for the situation you face, if Epson hasn't a working alternative to being printerless. Too bad that paperless society didn't evolve to save a few trees and thousands of gallons in expensive ink.
Good luck & happy computing!

Bonjour printers disappearing

I have a problem with a G-5 PPC which has had it's Bonjour printers disappear from the print menu and not appear in the Printer Setup Utility.
This problem followed the 4.11 update. It reappeared after a archive and reinstall, followed by update.
Anyone have any ideas. I have run out as Bonjour is not only setup free, it seems untouchable.
Thanks

Did the attempt to add the printer failed, or did the log-on failed?. Just in case, (I think you did it right, anyway) you have to enter the account Short Name as stated in System Preferences, rather than the user Name, e.g for the user John Smith, enter the short name johnsmith rather than the user name John.
If you cannot add them thru the CUPS interface, I can suggest you to take a somewhat different course of action:
Open Terminal and type this command again:
lookupd -flushcache (press Return)
then log out, and back in. If you can see the Bonjour printers briefly, and then they disappear again, then:
Reset the Printing System form the Printer Setup Utility (do not try to reinstall the printers yet), and then run some system utility to "clean" the system.
Personally, I prefer MainMenu, because I find it simpler to use, but you can also run Onyx, Cocktail, etc to achieve the same results.
In case you use MainMenu, in the Cleaning tab, clean all the users caches and do a deep clean of the system cache, verify the preference files, flush the lookupd cache (from the Other Taks tab), and restart. This boot up will last longer than usual.

Printers disappear when trying to print pdf/a documents...?

The only way to get the printers back is to roll back windows. Very time consuming and irritating. Does anyone know it this is a common problem or if it is more likely to be a faulty installation?
Cheers,
Mats

Is this a home system or a work environment?
What's your OS? Acrobat version?
We have a similar problem sometimes at work that the printers disappear, however this is due to the Citrix work environment.

Print same output to all printers

i am using :
import java.awt.*;
import javax.swing.*;
import java.awt.print.*;
import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
import java.awt.geom.Rectangle2D;
public class PrintUtilities extends Thread{
public static final double MM_TO_PAPER_UNITS = 1/25.4*72;
public static double widthA4 = 210*MM_TO_PAPER_UNITS;
public static double heightA4 = 297*MM_TO_PAPER_UNITS;
public static double leftMargin = 4.0*MM_TO_PAPER_UNITS;
public static double topMargin = 4.0*MM_TO_PAPER_UNITS;
public void run()
//setDaemon(true); // this thread will not keep the app alive
print();
private Component[] componentsToBePrinted;
public static void printComponent(Component c) {
new PrintUtilities(c).print();
public static void printComponents(Component[] c){
     new PrintUtilities(c).print();
public PrintUtilities(Component componentToBePrinted) {
this(new Component[]{componentToBePrinted});
public PrintUtilities(Component[] components){
     this.componentsToBePrinted = components;
public void print() {
     PrinterJob job = PrinterJob.getPrinterJob();
     PageFormat pf = job.defaultPage();
     pf.setOrientation(PageFormat.PORTRAIT);
          Paper paper = pf.getPaper();
          paper.setSize(widthA4, heightA4);
          paper.setImageableArea(leftMargin,topMargin,widthA4-2*leftMargin,heightA4-2*topMargin);
          pf.setPaper(paper);
          job.setCopies(1);
     //     job.setCopies(PrinterJob.getPrinterJob().getCopies());
     Book bk = new Book();
     for(int i=0;i<componentsToBePrinted.length;i++){
          System.out.println("APPENDING THE FOLLOWING DOC NUMBER: "+i);
//          disableDoubleBuffering(componentsToBePrinted);
          bk.append((Printable)componentsToBePrinted[i],pf);
               //enableDoubleBuffering(componentsToBePrinted[i]);
     job.setPageable(bk);
     //TODO pass an appropriate/specific name for the print job
     job.setJobName("Mobile Report Print Forms");
     if (job.printDialog()) {
     try {
     job.print();
     } catch (PrinterException e) {
     System.out.println(e);
/** The speed and quality of printing suffers dramatically if
* any of the containers have double buffering turned on.
* So this turns if off globally.
* @see enableDoubleBuffering
public static void disableDoubleBuffering(Component c) {
RepaintManager currentManager = RepaintManager.currentManager(c);
currentManager.setDoubleBufferingEnabled(false);
/** Re-enables double buffering globally. */
public static void enableDoubleBuffering(Component c) {
RepaintManager currentManager = RepaintManager.currentManager(c);
currentManager.setDoubleBufferingEnabled(true);
i am getting different output on different printers as well. I have classes defined as Printeable that draw forms, each form has 75 questions and they are all done using graphics2D some printer prints all the pages perfectly some other with different margin and on a laser printer i get only one box.
If it helps someone, for testing, i printed to file (.prn) and read the ouput through Red Titan it's free
it showed me one box out of 76
just the first one ????
possible solution that would help for margin
http://java.sun.com/developer/JDCTechTips/2004/tt0611.html
i used book and send printeable class and appended them into the book class
i am dying to solve this problem and wondering if there is better way for testing and how to make all pages
compatible for all printers. I want my program to send all forms to printer same format same size
is there any suggestion?? what am i doing wrong?
by the way
bk.append((Printable)componentsToBePrinted[i],pf);
componentsToBePrinted[] is an array of classes that implements Printeable and they all draw the forms correctly and sends to the printer. It is working mostly but i needed to work on alll printers no exceptions
I appreciate any help and i will issue all my duke starts im new to posting in the forum but i will give all my points for this tip
PLEASE HELP

I want my program to send all forms to printer same format same size is there any suggestion??Produce a PDF... effectively delegating printing there-of to someone else. Problem solvered.
Your PDF options are (AFAIK) FOP or itext.
Cheers. Keith.

Firefox main window goes black and all tools disappear.

Occasionally the Firefox main window will go black and all tools disappear.
It ends up with a black window, a blue frame, and the three buttons in the top right corner (minimize, maximize and close). If any audio (or video) is playing, the sound continues. If I click the X at top right to close it, it closes and when I restart it everything is ok. See the screenshot below.
This only happens once a day or so. I have no way of predicting it other than I'm usually scrolling down the page when it happens. It has happened in safe mode.
I'm using the most recent Firefox, 33.0.2, on Win 8.1 on an i5 system with 8G RAM.
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/Awx1fD0.png"/>

Try to disable OMTC and leave hardware acceleration in Firefox enabled.
*layers.offmainthreadcomposition.enabled = false
You can open the <b>about:config</b> page via the location/address bar.
You can accept the warning and click "I'll be careful" to continue.
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/about:config
You can try to disable hardware acceleration in Firefox.
*Tools > Options > Advanced > General > Browsing: "Use hardware acceleration when available"
You need to close and restart Firefox after toggling this setting.
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/upgrade-graphics-drivers-use-hardware-acceleration

How do I set the default print margins for ALL printers in mozilla.cfg

How do I set the default print margins for ALL printers in mozilla.cfg, even ones that are not yet installed / connected to the computer?
I'm trying to install firefox with MDT and apply certain print options, but the printers themselves are connected at a later stage so the print.printer_myprinterhere cannot be used.

Best answer I could find: [https://mike.kaply.com/2012/03/16/customizing-firefox-autoconfig-files/#comment-132668]
If you can figure out how to add the printer name, this can be used to lock the margins.

I just upgraded to snow leopard and some of my printers disappeared and I am unable to get them back any ideas

I just upgraded to snow leopard and some of my printers disappeared and I am unable to get them back any ideas

Hello DaveDue
Start your troubleshooting with the article below, you may need to download the printer drivers directly from the manufactures website.
Troubleshooting printer issues in OS X
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts3147
Regards,
-Norm G.

Printers disappeared from printer Utility

Not only have my printers disappeared from the printer utility window I also get the error message "server-error-service-unavailable I have tried the fixes on the OS X support page such as: Repairing permissions on the startup drive; verifying the /tmp file thru terminal but I still can't see my printers and still get the error message. Any help would be appreciated.

This just happened to me as well. G5 dual, 10.3.9. Earlier in the day I ran software update which applied a security update to the OS and some other updates (Quicktime, Garage Band, etc.). I repaired permissions before and after. For a while I could print as normal over the network (printers not directly connected to this Mac). Later in the day I suddenly got "no printers selected" and when I went to add/delete in the Printer Setup Utility, I got the "server-error-service-unavailable" message and the utility hung. I've shut the machine down completely, but the problem persists on re-start.
Are there perhaps corrupted prefs to trash? I don't want to just go trashing stuff blindly.
Or does it indicate a server problem, not my machine? Doubt it because others can print successfully.

Argh! All printers disappeared...

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