We're experiencing issues with redirected printers on a Windows Server 2022 machine running Remote Desktop Services for about 30 users across three locations. Since November, random users have reported that their redirected printers stop functioning throughout the day. I checked the Group Policy Objects (GPOs) and found references to old printer connections from a server that was decommissioned years ago, so I removed those in hopes of fixing the problem. However, one user still faced the same issue this morning. The Event Viewer logs show repeated Error 603 from the PrintService, indicating that the print spooler can't read the configuration from a specific registry key. This error happens for several users until they either disconnect or contact us for help. Interestingly, terminating the user's session and having them reconnect usually solves the problem 90% of the time. Has anyone encountered this situation before? My ticket history doesn't show this issue prior to November.
1 Answer
I've noticed that Windows can struggle with printer redirection, especially in larger setups. If you have more than a handful of users, it's really worth considering a third-party solution to manage printers effectively. I've been using TSPrint from Terminal Works, and while it isn’t the cheapest option, it's been reliable for years. There might be cheaper alternatives out there, but TSPrint has a solid reputation in the industry and just works well if your budget allows for it.
I hear you! I've also found that Terminal Services can falter with printer redirection as the user count climbs. It's a frustrating limitation.