clicking Find Printer shows error "The Active Directory Domain Services is currently unavailable" i am on a home network

Anonymous
2010-05-21T12:33:03+00:00

When I try to "Find Printer (in MSWord, e.g.) I get the message: The Active Directory Domain Services is currently unavailable.

I'm running Vista Ultimate (SP2) on a home network; and I'm the Administrator.

How do I make the ADDS available?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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Anonymous
2010-05-28T03:56:59+00:00

Hello Dick Bard,

Thanks for posting in the Microsoft Answers forum! To add to Lorie – One’s suggestion, please try following the steps below:

>Go to Control Panel

> Select Printers

> Right-click on Add Printer

> Select Run as Administrator

Now try to add your network printer.

Please let me know if this helps J

Adam

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-05-06T17:41:02+00:00

    Had a problem where the printer would appear as offline, finding printer also gave me the active directory domain services is currently unavailable error. The best result for me was just to close and open word, then the printer would appear as ready.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-02-14T21:56:45+00:00

    Preoceed to this site

    https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc771349.aspx

    and search it the 'windows' button for Print Management.

    Should be a breeze from there

    Galactus4

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-02-13T10:19:15+00:00

    HI All:

    I've solved this for Win 8. If:

    * You have an old but trusty printer which is a multi-function device

    * A spanking new computer, with shiny-sparkly USB 3 ports

    Do not plug the printer into a USB 3 port. Plug it into a USB 2 port. Worked for me

    Garry

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-02-12T01:00:37+00:00

    Hello Dick Bard,

    Thanks for posting in the Microsoft Answers forum! To add to Lorie – One’s suggestion, please try following the steps below:

    >Go to Control Panel

    > Select Printers

    > Right-click on Add Printer

    > Select Run as Administrator

    Now try to add your network printer.

    Please let me know if this helps J

    Adam

    Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

    Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think

    This is correct. However, I tried this and realized one important factor that you need to make sure of. Make sure that you are on a network that has file sharing on. This is usually found in private networks, and I had to switch my home network from Public -> Private in order for this to work. I know that this is an old post, but I had the issue with Microsoft Office 2013.

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