Terminal Services Loses Printer After Disconnect

When a Remote Desktop session is ungracefully disconnected from the server (eg. internet connectivity problem, disconnected LAN cable etc), upon reconnecting the previously-used printer is not available or is not set as the default.

This occurs because the Terminal Services redirector has lost the connection the printer on the Remote Desktop client, and upon reconnecting it does not refresh. Redirected printers are only enumerated at login.

The following error will be logged In the System log of the server:

Error 1103: An internal communication error occurred. Redirected printing will no longer function for a single user session. Check the status of the Terminal Services Device Redirector in the System folder of Device Manager.

Solution

1. Close all applications.

2. Log out and log back in again.

References

• Windows 2000 Terminal Server Reports Event ID 1103 in the System Event Log