Printer Shares Lost after Changing Server Name

ID: Q174871

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 SP3
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 SP3
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition


IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information on how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" online Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" online Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SYMPTOMS

After you rename a print server, the shared printers no longer appear when You use NET VIEW at the command prompt. You may also receive the following error message when using the NET USE command to connect to the shared printer:

Error 53: The computer name specified in the network path cannot be located.


CAUSE

Windows NT Service Pack 3 began writing the full Universal Naming Convention (UNC) name of the printer in the registry. When you change the name of the server, Windows NT does not update the registry and the printer shares no longer appear.


RESOLUTION

Use one of the following methods to work around this problem:

Method 1

Update the registry to reflect the new UNC name of the print server.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

  1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe) and select the following subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES\LANMANSERVER
    \SHARES

    NOTE: The above registry key is one path; it has been wrapped for readability.


  2. Double-click any of the printers listed under the Shares key to open the Data dialog box.


  3. Update the Path setting to reflect the new UNC name of the server.


  4. Close Registry Editor.


Method 2

  1. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel. Double-click the Printers folder.


  2. Right-click the shared printer and select Sharing.


  3. Click Not Shared and then click OK.


  4. Right-click the printer again and select Sharing.


  5. Click Shared and then click OK.


The printer share should now be available to remote users and the NET VIEW and NET USE commands should work properly.

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4.

Additional query words: Netview browse browsing share

Keywords : kbnetwork kbprint NT4SP4Fix kbbug4.00 nthowto ntprint kbfix4.00.sp4 NTSrvWkst
Version : WinNT:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug


Last Reviewed: April 10, 1999
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