"Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working" - Message Appears

I get this message everytime that I try to install a network printer in Vista
Ultimate. I bring the "Add Printer" wizard, select netwrok printer, and I
get the "Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working" box, then Explorer restarts
and I'm back to square one.

I'm running Vista Ultimate on a 2.67 GHz Quad-Core CPU & 4GB RAM.

Thanks,

Mike

Is this a home network or a domain?

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

"Mike" <Mike@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
newsC779AA2-2BF3-465B-8140-FF378A63FB20@microsoft.com...
>I get this message everytime that I try to install a network printer in
>Vista
> Ultimate. I bring the "Add Printer" wizard, select netwrok printer, and I
> get the "Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working" box, then Explorer restarts
> and I'm back to square one.
>
> I'm running Vista Ultimate on a 2.67 GHz Quad-Core CPU & 4GB RAM.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mike

I tried to search the message as it appeared and received 7 results, none of
which were helpful. Can you point me to a specific article?

"Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:

> Is this a home network or a domain?
>
> --
> Alan Morris
> Windows Printing Team
> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
>
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
>
> "Mike" <Mike@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> newsC779AA2-2BF3-465B-8140-FF378A63FB20@microsoft.com...
> >I get this message everytime that I try to install a network printer in
> >Vista
> > Ultimate. I bring the "Add Printer" wizard, select netwrok printer, and I
> > get the "Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working" box, then Explorer restarts
> > and I'm back to square one.
> >
> > I'm running Vista Ultimate on a 2.67 GHz Quad-Core CPU & 4GB RAM.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Mike
>
>
>

This is on a domain.

"Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:

> Is this a home network or a domain?
>
> --
> Alan Morris
> Windows Printing Team
> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
>
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
>
> "Mike" <Mike@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> newsC779AA2-2BF3-465B-8140-FF378A63FB20@microsoft.com...
> >I get this message everytime that I try to install a network printer in
> >Vista
> > Ultimate. I bring the "Add Printer" wizard, select netwrok printer, and I
> > get the "Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working" box, then Explorer restarts
> > and I'm back to square one.
> >
> > I'm running Vista Ultimate on a 2.67 GHz Quad-Core CPU & 4GB RAM.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Mike
>
>
>

Are printers published into your Active Directory? If not you can disable
the AD search feature

gpedit.msc
Computer Configuration / Admin Templates / Printers / Add Printer wizard -
Network scan page (Managed network)
Disable or configure for you purpose

in a cmd window
gpupdate /force

this refreshes the policies

Now run Add Printer


--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

"Mike" <Mike@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:FEF832FB-81C6-4177-80D8-B320D059460F@microsoft.com...
> This is on a domain.
>
> "Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:
>
>> Is this a home network or a domain?
>>
>> --
>> Alan Morris
>> Windows Printing Team
>> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
>>
>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> rights.
>>
>> "Mike" <Mike@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> newsC779AA2-2BF3-465B-8140-FF378A63FB20@microsoft.com...
>> >I get this message everytime that I try to install a network printer in
>> >Vista
>> > Ultimate. I bring the "Add Printer" wizard, select netwrok printer,
>> > and I
>> > get the "Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working" box, then Explorer
>> > restarts
>> > and I'm back to square one.
>> >
>> > I'm running Vista Ultimate on a 2.67 GHz Quad-Core CPU & 4GB RAM.
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> >
>> > Mike
>>
>>
>>

I tried the gpupdate /force and it gave me a message that it completed
successfully but when I tried to add the printer, Windows Explorer stopped
working, restarted, etc...



"Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:

> Are printers published into your Active Directory? If not you can disable
> the AD search feature
>
> gpedit.msc
> Computer Configuration / Admin Templates / Printers / Add Printer wizard -
> Network scan page (Managed network)
> Disable or configure for you purpose
>
> in a cmd window
> gpupdate /force
>
> this refreshes the policies
>
> Now run Add Printer
>
>
> --
> Alan Morris
> Windows Printing Team
> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
>
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
>
> "Mike" <Mike@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:FEF832FB-81C6-4177-80D8-B320D059460F@microsoft.com...
> > This is on a domain.
> >
> > "Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:
> >
> >> Is this a home network or a domain?
> >>
> >> --
> >> Alan Morris
> >> Windows Printing Team
> >> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
> >>
> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> >> rights.
> >>
> >> "Mike" <Mike@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> newsC779AA2-2BF3-465B-8140-FF378A63FB20@microsoft.com...
> >> >I get this message everytime that I try to install a network printer in
> >> >Vista
> >> > Ultimate. I bring the "Add Printer" wizard, select netwrok printer,
> >> > and I
> >> > get the "Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working" box, then Explorer
> >> > restarts
> >> > and I'm back to square one.
> >> >
> >> > I'm running Vista Ultimate on a 2.67 GHz Quad-Core CPU & 4GB RAM.
> >> >
> >> > Thanks,
> >> >
> >> > Mike
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

Alan:

Okay, after a nice weekend off and clearing the workweek cobwebs, I went
into the group policy and changed a few settings. However, trying to add a
network printer still causes Windows Explorer to crash and restart. Is there
anything else that you can suggest? I guess that I just cannot understand
why this simple little thing would cause Explorer to bomb the way that it
does.

Thanks in advance for any help.


Mike


"Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:

> Are printers published into your Active Directory? If not you can disable
> the AD search feature
>
> gpedit.msc
> Computer Configuration / Admin Templates / Printers / Add Printer wizard -
> Network scan page (Managed network)
> Disable or configure for you purpose
>
> in a cmd window
> gpupdate /force
>
> this refreshes the policies
>
> Now run Add Printer
>
>
> --
> Alan Morris
> Windows Printing Team
> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
>
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
>
> "Mike" <Mike@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:FEF832FB-81C6-4177-80D8-B320D059460F@microsoft.com...
> > This is on a domain.
> >
> > "Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:
> >
> >> Is this a home network or a domain?
> >>
> >> --
> >> Alan Morris
> >> Windows Printing Team
> >> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
> >>
> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> >> rights.
> >>
> >> "Mike" <Mike@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> newsC779AA2-2BF3-465B-8140-FF378A63FB20@microsoft.com...
> >> >I get this message everytime that I try to install a network printer in
> >> >Vista
> >> > Ultimate. I bring the "Add Printer" wizard, select netwrok printer,
> >> > and I
> >> > get the "Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working" box, then Explorer
> >> > restarts
> >> > and I'm back to square one.
> >> >
> >> > I'm running Vista Ultimate on a 2.67 GHz Quad-Core CPU & 4GB RAM.
> >> >
> >> > Thanks,
> >> >
> >> > Mike
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

Don't use the Printers Folder wizard to install the printer

START
\\remoteserver

Right click the shared printer name
Connect


Because a bstr is not initialized and a domain function fails

You can also add a string to the AD default location field in an attempt to
work around this.

What server OS are you running on the Domain Controllers?


--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

"Mike" <Mike@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:FB728A0A-8F27-40EF-8D2D-05FBE62B18FD@microsoft.com...
> Alan:
>
> Okay, after a nice weekend off and clearing the workweek cobwebs, I went
> into the group policy and changed a few settings. However, trying to add
> a
> network printer still causes Windows Explorer to crash and restart. Is
> there
> anything else that you can suggest? I guess that I just cannot understand
> why this simple little thing would cause Explorer to bomb the way that it
> does.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help.
>
>
> Mike
>
>
> "Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:
>
>> Are printers published into your Active Directory? If not you can
>> disable
>> the AD search feature
>>
>> gpedit.msc
>> Computer Configuration / Admin Templates / Printers / Add Printer
>> wizard -
>> Network scan page (Managed network)
>> Disable or configure for you purpose
>>
>> in a cmd window
>> gpupdate /force
>>
>> this refreshes the policies
>>
>> Now run Add Printer
>>
>>
>> --
>> Alan Morris
>> Windows Printing Team
>> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
>>
>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> rights.
>>
>> "Mike" <Mike@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:FEF832FB-81C6-4177-80D8-B320D059460F@microsoft.com...
>> > This is on a domain.
>> >
>> > "Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Is this a home network or a domain?
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Alan Morris
>> >> Windows Printing Team
>> >> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
>> >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
>> >>
>> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> >> rights.
>> >>
>> >> "Mike" <Mike@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> newsC779AA2-2BF3-465B-8140-FF378A63FB20@microsoft.com...
>> >> >I get this message everytime that I try to install a network printer
>> >> >in
>> >> >Vista
>> >> > Ultimate. I bring the "Add Printer" wizard, select netwrok printer,
>> >> > and I
>> >> > get the "Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working" box, then Explorer
>> >> > restarts
>> >> > and I'm back to square one.
>> >> >
>> >> > I'm running Vista Ultimate on a 2.67 GHz Quad-Core CPU & 4GB RAM.
>> >> >
>> >> > Thanks,
>> >> >
>> >> > Mike
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>

Alan:

Sorry that I took so long to get back to you. I am currently using Windows
Server 2003.

I will try to follow the method that you just mentioned.


Thanks

"Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:

> Don't use the Printers Folder wizard to install the printer
>
> START
> \\remoteserver
>
> Right click the shared printer name
> Connect
>
>
> Because a bstr is not initialized and a domain function fails
>
> You can also add a string to the AD default location field in an attempt to
> work around this.
>
> What server OS are you running on the Domain Controllers?
>
>
> --
> Alan Morris
> Windows Printing Team
> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
>
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
>
> "Mike" <Mike@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:FB728A0A-8F27-40EF-8D2D-05FBE62B18FD@microsoft.com...
> > Alan:
> >
> > Okay, after a nice weekend off and clearing the workweek cobwebs, I went
> > into the group policy and changed a few settings. However, trying to add
> > a
> > network printer still causes Windows Explorer to crash and restart. Is
> > there
> > anything else that you can suggest? I guess that I just cannot understand
> > why this simple little thing would cause Explorer to bomb the way that it
> > does.
> >
> > Thanks in advance for any help.
> >
> >
> > Mike
> >
> >
> > "Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:
> >
> >> Are printers published into your Active Directory? If not you can
> >> disable
> >> the AD search feature
> >>
> >> gpedit.msc
> >> Computer Configuration / Admin Templates / Printers / Add Printer
> >> wizard -
> >> Network scan page (Managed network)
> >> Disable or configure for you purpose
> >>
> >> in a cmd window
> >> gpupdate /force
> >>
> >> this refreshes the policies
> >>
> >> Now run Add Printer
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Alan Morris
> >> Windows Printing Team
> >> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
> >>
> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> >> rights.
> >>
> >> "Mike" <Mike@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:FEF832FB-81C6-4177-80D8-B320D059460F@microsoft.com...
> >> > This is on a domain.
> >> >
> >> > "Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Is this a home network or a domain?
> >> >>
> >> >> --
> >> >> Alan Morris
> >> >> Windows Printing Team
> >> >> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
> >> >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
> >> >>
> >> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> >> >> rights.
> >> >>
> >> >> "Mike" <Mike@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> >> newsC779AA2-2BF3-465B-8140-FF378A63FB20@microsoft.com...
> >> >> >I get this message everytime that I try to install a network printer
> >> >> >in
> >> >> >Vista
> >> >> > Ultimate. I bring the "Add Printer" wizard, select netwrok printer,
> >> >> > and I
> >> >> > get the "Windows Explorer Has Stopped Working" box, then Explorer
> >> >> > restarts
> >> >> > and I'm back to square one.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > I'm running Vista Ultimate on a 2.67 GHz Quad-Core CPU & 4GB RAM.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Thanks,
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Mike
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>