Question: One of my users' XP computer wouldn't start this morning - the problem turned out to be a corrupt registry, fixed with a chkdsk. Now everything is fine, except he's missing all his printers and can't add any. When I try to add a network printer (by drag and drop or going through the wizard), I get:

> 
> Windows cannot connect to the printer. Either the printer name was typed incorrectly, or the specified printer has lost its connection to the server.
> 
> 
> 

Neither of those conditions is true, and the printers all work fine from any other workstation.

Also, if I try to add the printer that's physically connected to LPT1 on his computer, the New Hardware Wizard says:

> 
> There was a problem installing this hardware: Hewlett-Packard HP LaserJet 6P
> 
> 
> 

It then gives me the option to install manually, where I get to chose the LPT port - only to find nothing listed in the selection box. The Device Manager shows a happy and healthy LPT1, so I have no idea why it's absent here.

Any ideas? I really don't feel like formatting and reinstalling everything.

Answer: 
I would remove all printer drivers and then try again.

Here is the MS article on what to do:

<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/135406/en-us>
I noticed that you skipped something very crucial. After the chkdsk works and you finally get in, I think a rollback is called for to get most everything in your settings back. I think this is quicker for getting the system back than trying to continue one a crippled system. Remember, "if you find yourself in a hole, stop diging"