Error message when you try to print a document in Windows Server 2003: "The print spooler was unable to connect to your printer"

When you try to print a document in Microsoft Windows Server 2003, you receive the following error message: Additionally, you cannot continue to print the document unless you click OK.

Note You do not receive this error message every time that you try to print a document in Windows Server 2003.

This problem occurs if the HP Standard TCP/IP Port Monitor cannot query the printer.

To resolve this problem, create a standard TCP/IP printer port for each printer that uses the HP Standard TCP/IP Port Monitor. Then, change the printer to use a standard TCP/IP printer port. To do this, follow these steps:

1. In the Print Server Properties dialog box, click the Ports tab.
2. Click Add Port.
3. Click Standard TCP/IP Port, and then click New Port. The Add Standard TCP/IP Printer Port Wizard starts.
4. Follow the steps in the wizard to add a standard TCP/IP printer port.
5. Configure the printer to use the standard TCP/IP printer port that you created. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Right-click the printer, click Properties, and then click the Ports tab.
   2. Click to select the check box that is next to the standard TCP/IP printer port that you created, and then click OK.

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.