Adding a network printer to a Vista workstation / desktop / notebook

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Adding a network printer to a Vista workstation / desktop / notebook - The specified print monitor is unknown.

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As a developer, one of the first things I did to my notebook (running Vista) is disable the UAC - I can't stand it - it keeps me from installing things like Virtual Server (which is not supported on Vista - but works perfectly fine), and is basically something I'm not worried about.

Until I want to add a printer that is a network resource on my LAN. I get the error that the printer cannot be added - "The specified print monitor is unknown."

Very informative - I know.

Well, believe it or not - this occurred because I set the value for the UAC to zero - or basically disabled it. The issue pops up because the network printer resource MUST install a driver on your local workstation - and if UAC is turned off, by default - MSFT has written into this - DO NOT install any foreign device - period.

To resolve - I open the registry HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System and set EnableLUA to a value of ONE "1" - reboot - and the printer adds just fine.

The question I'm sure you're asking yourself... "Do I have to leave UAC enabled???" - NO NO NO - and that's the nice part.

So, re-enable UAC - add the printer - disable UAC - and enjoy.

Hopefully this helps some other unsuspecting Vista lover...

Posted on Sunday, April 29, 2007 1:46 PM Windows Vista | Back to top

Comments on this post: Adding a network printer to a Vista workstation / desktop / notebook - The specified print monitor is unknown.

# re: Adding a network printer to a Vista workstation / desktop / notebook - The specified print monitor is unknown.

You can also just add the printer as a local printer then once the printer driver is installed you can add the network printer without the error coming up then just delete the local printer you installed. Seems to work without having to reboot or enable UAC.

Left by ShatterGhost on May 09, 2007 1:39 AM

# re: Adding a network printer to a Vista workstation / desktop / notebook - The specified print monitor is unknown.

Thank you very much, you DID end up helping a random Vista user!

Left by Alex on May 17, 2007 6:39 PM

# re: Adding a network printer to a Vista workstation / desktop / notebook - The specified print monitor is unknown.

Thank you SO much - i had to do a little digging before i came across your very helpfull post.

Cheers

Shannon

Left by Shannon on Jun 26, 2007 10:26 PM

# re: Adding a network printer to a Vista workstation / desktop / notebook - The specified print monitor is unknown.

Thank you sooo much from me too ! took me all day until i found your post! It worked!!!!

thanks again

Beth

Left by Beth on Jul 05, 2007 12:52 PM

# re: Adding a network printer to a Vista workstation / desktop / notebook - The specified print monitor is unknown.

Thank you so much.. This really helped. It's this kind of BS that makes Vista almost unusable for the average user. Can I imagine my mom and dad using this OS? Heck no-- MS may be more security minded, but they are not smart with this OS release. I think they are going to continue to lose market share.

Left by Robert on Jul 05, 2007 10:34 PM

# re: Adding a network printer to a Vista workstation / desktop / notebook - The specified print monitor is unknown.

helped me thanks

Left by castro on Jul 23, 2007 7:08 PM

# re: Adding a network printer to a Vista workstation / desktop / notebook - The specified print monitor is unknown.

Thanks for this... I know a lot of people will get help by finding this page through the Internet.

Left by Eddie M. on Jul 24, 2007 11:37 AM

# re: Adding a network printer to a Vista workstation / desktop / notebook - The specified print monitor is unknown.

Helped me too, thank you for posting this!

Left by Mark on Aug 08, 2007 4:50 AM

# re: Adding a network printer to a Vista workstation / desktop / notebook - The specified print monitor is unknown.

Another one helped. The funny thing is, I was able to install my all-in-one printer with no problem, but I couldn't install the laser jet without this.

Left by Dustin on Aug 08, 2007 12:31 PM

# re: Adding a network printer to a Vista workstation / desktop / notebook - The specified print monitor is unknown.

And another one helped!. Dell support has taken 3 hours to get nowhere on this but it took me 10 minutes with your help. Mino point, but if the printer is initially shown off-line, just switch it off then on to kick it into action.

Left by Richard Pope on Aug 11, 2007 2:36 AM

# re: Adding a network printer to a Vista workstation / desktop / notebook - The specified print monitor is unknown.

For those who don't know about it yet, Microsoft have released a patch (although there not calling it that) which resolves this issue directly...

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/938979

Left by Andy Janes on Aug 29, 2007 4:59 AM

# re: Adding a network printer to a Vista workstation / desktop / notebook - The specified print monitor is unknown.

Adding a network printer to a Vista workstation but error showing print monitor is unknown

Left by amar kumar mitra on Oct 31, 2009 7:01 AM

# Network Printer Stops After Restaring XP

i have one pc with vista bussiness and i had shared printer from that pc
9 users are sharing the printer in that some users have xp and some having vista all are able to print their documents
but in one pc after formatting xp i had added shared printer bur it stops working after restarting windows xp
pls pls help me some one pls
mail me on my ID vijay.singh1988@gmail.com
thanks

Left by Vijay on Nov 26, 2010 3:31 AM

# re: Adding a network printer to a Vista workstation / desktop / notebook - The specified print monitor is unknown.

You have a great article.I really appreciate your effort to write down all this information, it is very helpful at least to me.

Left by Printing Company on Jun 20, 2011 11:15 AM

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