It’s possible that the network IP number has changed due to the nature of DHCP auto assignments of numbers.

Step 1: Figure out your printer’s IP number

Your printer should have a configuration menu that shows you the IP number. 

Generally, your printer should have DHCP=on to have a valid IP number.

Use your internet browser to browse to that number.

Step 2: Figure out the hostname from the IP number (optional but preferred)
Now, look for the hostname somewhere on the printer’s network page

Note: You should use the printer network Name (aka hostname) instead of the IP number to prevent problems if the IP number changes.

You should make sure the your computer can ‘see’ the printer by name by browsing to the name instead of the number

Step 3: Use the printers control panel to change the port

Start... Control Panel... Printers

Then right-click the printer and choose Properties and switch to the Ports tab.

Click the Add Port... button

Then select “Standard TCP/IP Port” and click “New Port”

Click Next and from your results in Step 1 and 2  enter the Hostname (preferred) <or> IP number.

The Port Name is irrelevant so leave it at default.

Click Next, Finish, and Close the open windows, you are done.

Here are some troubleshooting steps followed by more detailed information about print servers. 

When a print server is involved, the workstation should start with no drivers since the server will provide them and auto-install.

Highlight and delete all network printers

1. If a network printer won’t delete, do these things, trying to delete along the way:a. Delete any queued documents.  If the current document doesn’t delete , it might be OK.
   b. Go to the Services control panel and restart the Print Spooler service.
   c. Go to the Printer Server Properties and remove the driver (see above)
   d. Change the printer port to another port (preferably to any working network port)
2. Delete any network ports in Print Server Properties (see above)
3. Delete any unused drivers in Print Server Properties (see above)
4. Go to \\SERVER and double-click the desired printers.

Note: If you are using NTScript at logon , go to the “\logon\Updates\Logs\User” folder and find the user.ini file and delete the “printers.txt=” line to re-trigger install of all printers at logon.

Advanced Tab

The advanced tab shows you which driver is being used.  You may choose from the print server’s installed drivers in the Print Server Properties window (see below)

Sharing Tab

The sharing tab only allows you to add additional drivers for the 3 basic Windows types: 32, 64, Itanium

Note: that if you want to specify a different driver within the same type you must create another printer / queue.

Print Server Properties

Print Server properties is the little known area that allows you to control the print drivers and print ports that are available on the server or workstation.

To access it, right-click in the printers window and choose “Server properties...”

Note: Even if you are on a workstation it’s still called server properties.

Ports Tab

The ports tab shows the LPT, USB and Network “Ports” that have been configured on the computer.

Note: The printer column shows you which printers are currently using the port.  If no printer is using the port it should probably be deleted.

The highlighted port should probably be deleted.

Drivers Tab

When you set up a printer, the driver is added to the drivers tab.  Unused drivers should be removed.

Remove the whole package when prompted.  Click properties to show the actual files in the package.

Note: The screen doesn’t show you if a driver is being used by a printer, but If you try to remove a driver that is configured for a printer it will not let you continue.

Advanced Tab

This shows the location of spooled print jobs

1. Click on Start... Printers and Faxes

2. Right-click on the printer you want and choose "Set as default printer"

3. That's it. You might have to close any open programs to have it reset what the default printer is.