Why can I only print to my HP P1006 when logged in as an administrator?

[b309]

HP1006 Windows XP SP3, current with all patches.  I can print fine if logged in as an admin, regardless of application used (notepad...Word2010, Excel2010, notepad++, IE7).  When the Print window opens up after selecting Print...HP Laser Jet P1006, the Print button is greyed out and cannot be selected.  When selecting the printer through Start...Settings...Printers and Faxes and then, in the HP Laser Jet P1006 window, selecting Printer...Properties...Print Test Page this window appears: "Test page failed to print. Would you like to view the print troubleshooter for assistance? Access is denied."  This is a new occurance, but don't know what I did to make it start happening.  I get Windows Updates automatically, as well as Norton 360 updates.  Deleted the printer and downloaded new driver files, reinstalled, Printer Test Page (which prints fine when logged in as an Admin), lists all the same files as before the reinstall  Tells me driver version is HP1006K.DLL, Driver version 8.01.  This printer is connected via a USB port.  I have an Epson Stylus c88 connected via a parrallel port LPT1 which prints fine, admin or not.  Other non-printer printers (e.g. OneNote, PDF, etc.) work fine admin or not.  It's not an HP issue per se, but it only seems to impact the only HP printer I own.  Strange, no?

[007OHMSS]

Okay check this, while logged in as an administrator, check the properties of the printer. Select the security tab, and then highlight each user looking in the check marks in the window below. The other users may not have certain priveleges, which you should be able to correct by putting a check mark in those fields. 

If that is not the problem, it could be in the settings on Norton 360. Good program, but some users reports it is hard to setup properly due to how many options are available. For more on those settings, I would check the Norton forums, if that is part of the problem.

[b309]

There is no Security tab in the Properties window.  I get there by Start...Settings...Printers and Faxes...HP LaserJetP1006...Printer...Properties.  The tabs are General,Sharing,Ports,Advanced,Color Management,Device Settings,About,  Nowhere in the various tabs is there any place where users are referenced.  As regards Norton 360, yes, it's a horrible program, but before I go down that road it is just my HP printer that has this problem.  My Epson Stylus C88 works fine, although the Epson is on a parrallel port (LPT1) while the HP is on a USB port.  I think it's an HP problem, not a Symantec one.  Where is this security tab you mention?  Can't find it.

[007OHMSS]

What is your exact version of Windows XP? I am using XP Pro with SP3. 

[b309]

Windows XP.  Help about says Version 5.1 (Build 2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.120411-1615 : Service Pack 3)

I recall reading about something removing the Security tab from things in Windows.  Might be Norton 360 turns off Windows Security so that it can be in control.  I guess I will poke around with that.  Frustrating thing is that I could print to this printer up until a few weeks ago as this user.  This is a new issue.

[007OHMSS]

Patience is needed for setting up Norton 360. Lots of options, but lots of settings. I would definitely take a look at the online forums for Norton 360 to help set it up. Extensive program with a huge amount of features, making it somewhat complicated.

[BellJonez]

Actually Norton 360 is super simple. Just install it and leave it alone. There is no need to configure anything if you're a normal user. That's it's point.

Post your problem here. Someone there will help you: http://community.norton.com/t5/Tech-Outpost/bd-p/Tech_Outpost

[b309]

Not to get off topic, but Norton 360 is not at all simple.  You have to be on guard or it will do things you don't want, like constantly check for updates, defrag your hard drives, pester you about things, and generally be a pita.  Go to customer support and before anything it has to analyze your system so it can supposedly know what you have, but in truth to see if it can sell you anything.  Case in point, the link above insists that you register, and sends you a confirming email after you have signed up.  Except the email has not arrived more than 24 hours later.  They sure do talk a good game, and obviously have someone like the guy above to be sure we know how good they are, but it aint so.  Too bad too.  I still have some old Peter Norton books in a box in my closet.  He was a real pioneer and a good guy who sold great products.  Once upon a time.  But not so much lately.

Anyway, Norton support is no help.  So I am trying to de-Norton my system on my own enough to see if it's them that's causing my problem.  I will let you know.

[b309]

Norton support was no help.  I did in fact get the email to be allowed to log in to their support forum, but no matter how I search, no hits on printer, printing, admin, hp, p1006, or anything close.  So I guess that must mean that from their perspective there is no problem since it's not in their forum (uh huh...).

I did try this:  Logged on as an admin and gave the non-admin user admin rights, logged back in as that user now an admin, and I could print to the P1006.  So it's definitely an issue connected to rights given to an admin but denied to a "limited user".  Cannot see any errors in the event logs that would be connected to this.

This printer is connected via USB, versus the Epson which is connected via LPT port. (The EPSON does not have this problem). This printer used to work, and now it doesn't, so something has changed.  I can't say specifically when this started, but I get MS updates automatically, so it might have been one of those that tweaked something. 

Are there any services that need to be running, is there some way to ping the USB port to see if it is functioning OK?  I can't swap the printers since they can't use a similar port.  I suppose I could go and buy an EPSON USB printer and see what I get that way...

I still suspect it's a Norton issue since you can never truly rid yourself of Norton once you have it installed, unless you rip it out altogether.  When you turn it off it's still there, waiting to be turned back on.  Look in Task Manager...Processes... and it's programs are still there eating up CPU, memory and IO. 

And I know, it's XP, not VISTA or 7.  But this computer works and it used to let me print.  I connect to work with it and don't want the hassle of dealing with connecting a new box to work.  They are even more "help desk helpless" than Symantec.

Any more suggestions?