The print operation is unsuccessful when you use the "Point and Print" feature on a client computer that is running Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista Service Pack 1, or Windows Server 2003

Consider the following scenario.

• A printer is hosted on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1), or Windows Server 2003.
• You use the Point and Print feature to print to the printer from a client computer that is part of a workgroup.
• The client computer is running Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista SP1, or Windows Server 2003.
• The printer is set as the default printer on the client computer.
• You log off and then log on again.

In this scenario, the print operation from the client computer is unsuccessful.

Additionally, if you try to print again or try to add a port, the following event is logged in the Application log on the client computer:

Log Name: Application
Source: SpoolerWin32SPL
Event ID: 4
Level: Error
Description: The print spooler failed to reopen an existing printer connection because it could not read the configuration information from the registry key S-1-5-18\Printers\Connections. The print spooler could not open the registry key. This can occur if the registry key is corrupt or missing, or if the registry recently became unavailable

Additionally, no data is displayed on the printer's Ports tab or Sharing tab in Control Panel.

This issue occurs if you are not manually defined in the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Local Users and Groups snap-in on both the computer that hosts the printer and the client computer. In this scenario, the print settings are lost when you log off from the client computer.

To resolve this issue, have an administrator add you in the MMC Local Users and Groups snap-in by using the same username and password that you use on the client computer.