Tough one. Unable to add printer. Message: "The Directory Service is currently unavailable."

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rob Rolands
  • Start date Start date
R

Rob Rolands

Using a freshly installed Windows XP PC, Service Pack 1 and all windows
updates installed. Also Office 2003.

I get the message: "The Directory Service is currently unavailable.", when I
try to add a printer to my pc using he "Find a printer in the directory"
option when adding a printer.

I am an administrator of the local computer and the domain to which I am
attached.
Other Windows 2000 / XP machines can access the directory to search for
printers. There are no funny system errors in the event log. I Cant find
anything on the knowledge base.

Can you help?

Kind regards
ROB
 
Rob said:
Using a freshly installed Windows XP PC, Service Pack 1 and all
windows updates installed. Also Office 2003.

I get the message: "The Directory Service is currently unavailable.",
when I try to add a printer to my pc using he "Find a printer in the
directory" option when adding a printer.

I am an administrator of the local computer and the domain to which I
am attached.
Other Windows 2000 / XP machines can access the directory to search
for printers. There are no funny system errors in the event log. I
Cant find anything on the knowledge base.

Can you help?

Kind regards
ROB
Click to expand...

Is the driver for the target printer installed correctly? You can try
Cari's (MVP) site for XP-specifics on doing a clean deinstall/reinstall.
http://www.coribright.com/Windows/

Q
 
Quaoar said:
Is the driver for the target printer installed correctly? You can try
Cari's (MVP) site for XP-specifics on doing a clean deinstall/reinstall.
http://www.coribright.com/Windows/

Q
Click to expand...
Yes there is a driver for the target printer already on my machine, as I can
install this printer (and it works)using the "Browse for a printer method",
but am not able to use Active Directory to locate printers registered with
the Domain Controller. i.e. after clicking on the add printer wizard I
choose the option "A Network printer....", this then gives you the choice
between
1. "Find a printer in the directory" (This is the option that is failing)
or
2. "Connect to this printer (or Browse for a printer...) (This option allows
me to connect to printers)
However, its not a problem with this particular printer, as the option 1
above fails before getting to the windows that enables you to search for
printers in the Active Directory. As soon as I click on the "Next" button to
"find a printer in the directory" it comes up with the error previously
mentioned.
 
Back
Top