Cannot Connect to Web Printer with "http://<servername>/<printershare>" Syntax

ID: Q221485

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to connect to an Internet printer by using an "http://servername/printershare" syntax in the Add Printer Wizard, you receive the following response:

Could not connect to the printer. You either entered a printer name that was incorrect or the specified printer is no longer connected to the server.

CAUSE

You have used an incorrect syntax for the printer's URL.

RESOLUTION

Use the following syntax for an Internet printer address:

http://servername/printers/sharename/.printer

Note that connecting to Internet print servers with the Add Printer Wizard is designed primarily with third-party print server connections over HTTP in mind. Connecting in this manner to a Windows 2000 print server disables Web point-and-print, which is used to automatically install drivers on client computers. If you want to use these features and use the "http://servername/printershare" naming convention, connect to and install the printer using your Web browser.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbenv kbprint
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb