I recently built a network using Windows 2003 Enterprise for the domain server. I have a mix of Windows XP and Windows 98SE (all have the unofficial Win98SE service pack installed) machines plugged in. I am having a problem getting printers shared on Win98SE machines to be useable. For example I have a HP Laserjet 6MP attached to the computer I'm typing this on (Windows 98SE) and I have it shared to three groups on the domain server which have complete access: students, teachers, staff When another computer installs this printer on it, and attempts to print to it it may work the first time, however if that computer (the one sharing the printer) restarts or sits for more than 5 minutes it won't let the user print to it giving out error messages such as You need a password to Access this printer, or printer is offline. I have no issues with the printers on the local machine, none whatsoever. It's just when I'm sharing the printers and other computers simply cannot access them. I have double checked the following: - The domains are correct - The IP addresses are correct and not conflicting - The cable and switches are functioning - The printer is functioning - The computer can login - The workgroup is the same I have tried to change IP addresses a few times, but that didn't seem to help. To me it almost seems like something isn't authenticating properly...meaning it can't tell who has access. I also tried setting the access group on the printer to "The World", but I get the same errors. Does anyone have any ideas? Is this something between Windows 2003 domains and Windows 98? I'm at my wit's end trying to figure this one out...it SHOULD work. I will also quickly note that printers I have setup on HP jetdirect print servers work just fine on the network. HELP!

I think the problem is 98 itself. As a test, plug the printer into an XP machine and share it and then try to add that printer to another XP client and see if you can print ok. If you can, then you know the problem is within 98. I know with a windows 2000 based domain you had to install the dsclient on 9x clients in order to get it to interface properly with active directory....I'm not sure offhand if this is true with 2003 but it may very well be.

I don't have problems sharing printers on Windows XP boxes, so the problem does indeed lie with Windows 98. I tried installing "dsclient" off some Win2K server CDs I had. I still get "Password required" prompts, and cannot access printers errors. I might just have to bite the bullet and purchase some ded. print servers. Any more ideas from anyone? I'm willing to try anything!