Printer Problem 0x00000006 and 0x00000002

Updated: March 27, 2016 | 39 comments | Tags: , , ,

I started my day troubleshooting a Windows 7 SP1 client which couldn’t install a specific printer.
The same printer could be installed on other computers, both physical and virtual.
After verifying that the server (Windows 2008 R2) was not the issue I started looking into the computer configuration.

The eventlog did not show any other issues besides the printer issue.

I verified that the current user was indeed local administrator.
When browsing the Printserver from the client and trying to connect to the printer I received Error 0x00000006.

I then tried to add the printer as TCP/IP, but then I got the 0x00000002 error instead!

Connect to Printer
Windows cannot connect to the printer.
Operation failed with error 0x00000002.
Connect to Printer
Windows cannot connect to the printer.
Operation failed with error 0x00000006

The conclusion I came to was that it must be a driver issue on the client machine.
To delete drivers on a client you should use the built-in PrintUI-program.
Running the following command will take you to the appropriate setting:

printui.exe /s /t2

Delete the driver of the printer model you’re trying to install:

Try to reinstall/redistribute the printer and make sure it succeeds.

If the issue persists I recommend deleting the following registry-key and restarting the Printer Spooler-service:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\PendingFileRenameOperations

If this post helped you, or if you’re still having problems let me know!

39 Comments

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  1. efl on 2012-11-15 at 14:53

    thanks for help. fixed

    Reply
  2. steven delorenzo on 2012-11-16 at 08:36

    this must be from a while back because I now have a new printer which works fine. thanks for your help.

    Reply
  3. Joakim on 2012-11-20 at 22:11

    Glad I could help guys!

    If you went through other forums before you found this feel free to tell them about this page/solution.

    Reply
  4. Lucas on 2012-12-19 at 14:14

    It Doesn't Work. Do you have any other solution?

    Reply
    • Joakim on 2012-12-29 at 15:46

      Hi Lucas,

      Have you verified that the current user is a local administrator? Does the event log give you any information when you're trying to connect the printer?

      Reply
  5. Benn on 2013-01-06 at 00:03

    Hi Joakim,
    just today I have encountered this issue. Everything was fine until I tried to print an excel (2010 pro) document, under the print option it stated unable to connect to printer, everything else printed fine, word, web, notepad etc.
    In an attempt to solve, I removed printer and went to reinstall, which failed.
    I have tried using windows installer and HPs installer (both of these just state install fail via the win installer bar), your method (this gives me the following:
    unable to install printer. operation could not be completed (error 0x00000006). Nothing works.
    Machine is running Win7 64, standalone, printer is HP Photosmart 7520. Printer installed fine on laptop with same OS using the windows installer?!
    I tried system restore back to prior removing the printer and that failed to recover the printer. Any ideas before I go the whole hog and just reinstall windows would be great, thanks.

    Reply
    • Joakim on 2013-01-25 at 11:06

      Hi Benn,

      Sorry for the slow response. When you removed the printer, did you do it from "Devices and Printers"? After doing so you should do the "printui.exe /s /t2" step do verify that the driver is not still screwing with your system.

      Reply
  6. mayur on 2013-01-24 at 20:21

    Hi I am having the same issue on Windows 2008 server. Please suggest any solution.thanks

    Reply
    • Joakim on 2013-01-25 at 11:04

      Hi Mayur,

      Did you try the steps above on the client? Re-adding the drivers on the server should not make a differance, they are most likely corrupt on the client.

      Reply
  7. cbit on 2013-03-21 at 16:13

    Your article was a big help for me. Thanks for taking the time to publish it. I had two sets of drivers to remove for a Samsung printer that I was trying to share from Windows 7 to Windows 8. It took a couple of restarts to remove drivers that were "in use," but this got the job done!

    Reply
  8. Kelly on 2013-05-06 at 18:37

    I'm having the same problem with a Win7 64 bit, trying to install a Kyocera printer that's on a 2008 server. I checked and there are no drivers installed and I've cleaned the registry of all Kyocera entries. I updated the driver on the server and since have not been able to get the GPO that connects the printer to work on this PC (works on all others in the office). When I try to add it manually I get the error you show in this article. I've tried this a local and OU admin.

    Reply
  9. george on 2013-05-11 at 23:53

    Amazing! Thank you. I had been searching for a solution for hours and deleting the registry key and restarting the Printer Spool service did it. I never would have found that myself. Thanks again!

    Reply
  10. manuel junior on 2013-05-23 at 17:48

    Hi Joakim,
    i´m trying for days, trying to solve such problem, well let me describe what i´m facing: I´m using a hp thin client t-5740,
    my print server is on windows 2008RrR2
    when i try to had my network printer from the client, i receve this message:cannot connect to printer.
    details:failed to connect to printer error 0x00000002
    pleaseeeeeeee can you help me solve this problem step by step?

    Reply
    • Joakim on 2013-05-24 at 10:59

      Hi Manuel,
      Which operating system are you running on the client? Windows 7 Pro?
      Did you follow all the steps in the guide? Check if the Event-log is reporting anything out of the ordinary. Let me know if you find anything.
      / Joakim

      Reply
      • manuel junior on 2013-05-27 at 11:22

        good day joaKim,
        1- i,m using windows Embedde Standard 2009 service Pack 3
        2- yes i did follow all the steps in the guide.
        3- the event log does not seems to show or reporting anything out of the ordinary, I also folowed all the steps above still with no results… please joakim help!!!
        please

  11. Mike on 2013-07-31 at 06:41

    Brilliant! I tried several other suggested methods to solve this one. Server 2008 64 bit with Win 7 workstaions. The printui tool did the job. Thanks.

    Reply
  12. Govind on 2013-09-21 at 06:24

    Hi Joakim,

    Nice and thanks. I pretty damn sure for every printer issue to add from LAN or Wireless Printer, This will work perfectly with no issues.

    Thanks Joakim.

    Reply
  13. Trond Myrvang on 2013-09-30 at 15:33

    Hi

    I also had this problem, and the reason was DNS hickup.

    A manual ipconfig /flushdns resolved the problem.

    Reply
  14. Anonymous on 2013-10-22 at 12:06

    Thanks, worked 1st time !!

    Reply
  15. Joakim on 2013-10-23 at 14:48

    Hi,

    Thanks for the feedback, especially to you who reported other solutions.

    Keep up the good work!

    / Joakim

    Reply
  16. Dabsaru on 2013-11-26 at 03:54

    i have same issues with you. I follow your instruction but i have no result. it is always said "Windows can not connect Operation failed with code 0x00000006"
    Printer Epson L300 installed on PC1, and i've tried to connect from PC2, both PC use Windows 7 ultimate 32bit.
    when i run regedit, i cant find "PendingFileRenameOperations', there is only "FileRenameOperations" that exist.
    FYI, on PC3 which use Windows XP, i can share it easily.
    I've tried every solution i know, but 'till now i have no solutions :(

    Reply
  18. ipsfera on 2014-01-22 at 10:38

    Amazing!!!! You my best helper! THX FROM RUSSIA!!!

    Reply
  19. nelvir on 2014-02-11 at 02:11

    I finally found a solution for this problem!
    Since not all PCs encounters this problem, first is to find a PC that can install the printer successfully then share the printer. On the PC which encounters the error, install the shared printer. The installation should be successful. After that, add the printer to the PC directly (network name or IP address). When asked about 'use the existing driver?', click 'yes.'

    I hope this helps.

    Regards

    Reply
  20. Matt Brown on 2014-03-26 at 21:15

    Had this problem when deploying devices with a GPO. Had to cycle the print spooler.

    Reply
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