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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

700+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

151 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2011-12-10T06:45:03+00:00

    Thank you Asif W. I had solved my printer problem just because the Service Status suddenly become Stop so when I click Start, all the softwares detected my printer when i refresh them thank you very much!!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2011-12-28T03:03:31+00:00

    There is a new clue: The problem is not the printer.  I bought a new printer and am experiencing exactly the same problem.  I will have to pay either Microsoft or Dell because I don't have any service plan with either.  I wonder if I have corrupt files.  I will probably end up getting a new computer too.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2011-12-29T03:45:02+00:00

    Hello,

    The thread you're posting in is very old. I recommend creating your own thread at the following location:

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/networking

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2012-01-25T21:09:04+00:00

    Adam wrote:

    ...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.

    That works fine - I can add printers from the Control Panel. 

    What does not work is trying to add a printer from withing any Office 2010 product From (eg) Project -> File -> Print -> Printer pull-down -> Add printer... consistently gets an unpopulated "Find printers" window followed quickly by "Find in the directory

    • X - The Directory Service is not currently available"  error window. 

    I'm on XP fully up to date, but wondering if the SQL server left behind from Office 2003 is incompatible with Office 2010?  If so, how far back do I have to manually remove programs before reinstalling Office 2010? 

    Of course, this is just a niggle as I can indeed use the control panel outside the Office product to add printers (which then do work inside Office!).

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments