The complete name of a network printer cannot be displayed on a computer that is running Windows Server 2003 or Windows XP

You are using a network printer whose name contains a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or Microsoft Windows XP. The name of the network printer is in one of the following formats:

• print server name.different Domain Name System (DNS) domain name\shared printer name
• shared printer name on print server name.different DNS domain name

In an application, you try to select the network printer from a list. However, a network printer name that contains an FQDN is so long that the complete name cannot be displayed in the list. Therefore, you cannot locate the network printer that you want.

This behavior occurs if the following conditions are true:

• The network printer is located in a domain. However, the print server that hosts the network printer is located in another domain. Or, the host names of the print server are configured in a disjoint namespace.
  
  Note In a disjoint namespace, the primary DNS suffix of the print server differs from the name of the domain that includes the print server.
• Users in a domain other than the domain that includes the print server have created network printers. These printers were created by using published printers in the Active Directory directory service.

A printer name must be an FQDN if the following conditions are true:

• You want to distinguish network printers from one another.
• These network printers have the same shared printer name.
• These network printers are in different domains.

If the names of the network printers do not contain FQDNs, you cannot distinguish the network printers from one another. However, a printer name will be much longer if its name contains an FQDN. Therefore, the complete name of the network printer cannot be displayed in a list.

You can resolve this issue by applying a hotfix. However, the following conditions must be true to apply the hotfix:

• The host names of the print servers can be resolved correctly.
• Every print server has a unique host name on the network.
• Every network printer connection in all user profiles has been disconnected.

Note If these conditions are not true, you may lose access to network printers after you apply the hotfix.

Windows Server 2003 hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To install this hotfix, you must have one of the following Windows Server 2003 service packs installed on the computer:

• Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1)
• Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2)

Restart requirement

You have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other previously released hotfixes.

Registry information

To apply this hotfix, you must make registry changes. More more information, see the "How to apply this hotfix" section.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003 with SP1, x86-based versions

Windows Server 2003 with SP2, x86-based versions

Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Itanium-based versions

Windows Server 2003 with SP2, Itanium-based versions

Windows Server 2003, x64-based versions

Windows Server 2003 with SP2, x64-based versions

Windows XP hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To install this hotfix on an x86-based computer, you must have Windows XP SP2 installed.

Restart requirement

You have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other previously released hotfixes.

Registry information

To apply this hotfix, you must make registry changes. For more information, see the "How to apply this hotfix" section.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows XP with SP2, x86-based versions

Windows XP with SP 2, x64-based versions

Windows XP with SP1, x64-based versions

How to apply this hotfix

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

To apply this hotfix, you must add the ConnectPrintersWithShortNames registry entry. To do this follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print
3. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
4. Type ConnectPrintersWithShortNames, and then press ENTER.
5. Right-click the ConnectPrintersWithShortNames registry entry, and then click Modify.
6. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
7. Exit Registry Editor.

This behavior is by design.

This hotfix changes default behavior. After you apply this hotfix, the network printers in the domain are connected to a print server by using their unique names. These names are shorter than the names that contain FQDNs.

After you apply the hotfix, the name of a network printer may have the following format:

• print server name\shared printer name
• shared printer name on print server name

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: