May 15 2008
Error when connecting to a shared printer with Vista.
So you’ve installed your printer on a computer running Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 and set it up to be shared. You can connect to it easily using your Windows XP machines, but when you try Windows Vista you get the following error:
“Windows cannot connect to the printer. There is not enough memory to complete this operation. Please close some programs and try again.”
Surely you have enough memory. You are running Vista right? So you already have a lot of memory installed to make that run. Maybe there isn’t enough. It’s telling you so. Not the case!
For some reason Vista can’t get seem to get past connecting to certain printer models. In my case I have a Samsung ML-1710 connected to a server shared out for my few computers to use. At first I had the printer connected directly to the Vista machine and shared it out from there. No problems. My XP machines did not encounter a memory problem connecting to a printer shared out by Vista. Then I moved it to my server. My XP’s connected. Vista gave the memory error. I tried sharing out from my XP machine. The Server 2003 connected no problems, and Vista gave me the error again. (of course this is not what I wanted, so I connected the printer back up to my server.)
I tried different drivers. Searched on the web for solutions. No luck. One day I was clicking like a mad man and it worked! Then like I idiot I deleted the printer setup and could not replicate what I did. Just recently I tried again, but this time took it step by step. And voila! I figured it out. Here’s what I did.
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[1] On your XP/Server 2003 machine you are sharing from: Install and share out the printer. Note the computer name, printer name, and printer share name.
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[2] On your Vista machine: Browse to the printer in Windows Explorer not the printer share (yet).
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Windows Explorer > Network > computer name > Printers > (double-click) printer name.
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NOT: Windows Explorer > Network > computer name > (double-click) printer share name (this is where the error occurs right…so don’t bother)
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[3] On your Vista machine: Open the printer property dialogue and leave it open.
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After step [2] you should see the printer queue.
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Then click: Printer > Properties.
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Now leave the printer properties dialogue showing. - This is the key! This will establish and leave the connection open to the target printer.
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[4] On your Vista machine: Go back up one level in Windows Explorer to computer name and double-click the printer share name.
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(click the Back button, or:) Windows Explorer > Network > computer name > (double-click) printer share name
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It should connect, and add it to your local printer list.
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Close all the extra printer windows.
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Check your local printer list by clicking: Start > Printers (or Start > Control Panel > Printers)
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Now you can close all your dialogue boxes and configure your printer locally. Make it your default if desired.
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(right-click) printer share name > Set as Default Printer
Well that’s it. It worked for me and I’ve tried it about 10 ten times between my Vista Ultimate Desktop and my Vista Business Laptop.
Let me know how it works out for you by submitting a post. Thanks. – Virtual Tech
2 Responses to “Error when connecting to a shared printer with Vista.”
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Umm… One tech to another… You[re good… Kudos. That’s some great troubleshooting. You just saved me hours, can’t thank you enough.
[...] And this is not the only way to resolve the problem. Over at VirtualTechSupport.ca, Simon writes about another way to solve the issue. The printer he was having problems with was a Samsung ML-1710. VirtualTechSupport.ca: Error when connecting to a shared printer with Vista [...]