Very, very slow printing to network (server based) printer

Vista SP1

I have recently started to encounter very, very slow printing to an
Epson C88 hanging off LPT1 on my win2003 server.

It takes about 30 seconds to switch to this printer in an application
(e.g. MS-Word). I click the drop down, select the printer, then the
drop down box just hangs there. Once I send the document to print, it
takes another 30 seconds to actually finish sending it to the printer
and the application is usable again.

Using an XP based system on the same network, it takes about 3 seconds
each for the same operations.

I've deleted the printer, right down to deleting the registry entries
I could find as well as the driver directory. Re-installing the
printer left it in the same slow state.

Ideas?

On Sun, 07 Dec 2008 15:24:43 -0500, +Bob+ <>
wrote:


Solution found. This problem is apparently widespread over a slew of
different printers. They always work fine from other MS operating
systems, they always crawl from Vista. Let's start with a generalized
"Vista sucks" just for good measure, then move on to the solution:

0. Remove the problem printer
1. add a new printer
2. add a local printer
3. chose 'new port'
4. chose 'localport'
5. type path to the networkprinter e.g. : \\server\printerName