Printer Problem - Directory Services Unavailable Message

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.print_fax (More info?)

I have a stand-alone Dell Inspiron 8500 laptop with XP Pro, that I am trying
to use with an HP Laserjet 4P (parallel port). The HP tests OK on a W-98
machine, so I know it and the cable are OK.

With the Dell, though, it will not print from Word, Notepad, or DOS. When I
try to interrogate the printer from the print dialog box, I get a message
that says "Directory Services Unavailable".

I can't find anything in the MS help or Knowledgebase that suggests where to
go from here. The one direction that "Help" took me was to printer
permissions, but when I got to the right-clicked dialog box that was
supposed to have a "Security" tab, there was none, so I stalled out there.

I previously had this problem with an HP 320 portable inkjet, and gave up.
Now I'd really like to use the 4P, so am looking harder for a solution. I'm
sure it's something simple relating to using older printers with XP, but I
can't figure it out. Any help would be appreciated.

Rich Phillips