498436 - Thunderbird ignores default system printer as well as attempt to change the printer

Status: NEW

(MailNews Core :: Printing, defect)

Description

[ThomasH]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.9.0.11) Gecko/2009060215 Firefox/3.0.11 (.NET CLR 3.5.30729)
Build Identifier: 2.0.0.21

Apparently this version of Thunderbird ignores the current default printer as well as any attempts to change the printer. Even after a manual selection of a different printer, deviating from convention used by Firefox, Thunderbird chooses again the same invalid printer. I also attempted to print to the valid printer, exit Thunderbird and restart in a hope to see it accepting the now valid printer. 

All to no avail. Thunderbird keeps somewhere the previous printer and ignores any attempts to change it. 

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1.Click on print, change printer to a valid printer manually
2.Print.
3.Click on print to print again. 
Actual Results:  
Thunderbird uses the previous (invalid) printer

Expected Results:  
Thunderbird should be now using the most recently selected (valid) printer.

Comment 1

[Ludovic Hirlimann [:Usul]]

Anything in Tools -> Error console ?

Comment 2

[ThomasH]

Nope, I see merely an warning about error parsing value for property "background color."

Comment 3

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

do you see this problem when using v3.1.1?

Comment 4

[david.bostwick]

I just changed from 3.0.6 to 3.1.1.  There is no difference in behavior.

Comment 5

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

if you are brave, you might try a trunk build.
backup your profile before attempting

Comment 6

[shepa006]

I have the same issue with Thunderbird, the default printer that Thunderbird wants to use isn't even connected anymore.

Could it be a 64-bit compatibility issue (since it sounds like it works for some people)?

Comment 7

[shepa006]

not a solution but good instructions for reseting the printer if anyone needs it... http://help.admin.mtu.edu/docs/index.php/Thunderbird:Thunderbird_Doesn't_Recognize_Default_Printer

Comment 8

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

yes, I also see on vista it always wants to the default printer.

these two claim the opposite:
Bug 429943 - Thunderbird will not use printer default; Firefox will use printer default
Bug 600105 - Default Printer not selected

Comment 9

[Onireon]

Here's a workaround that can lead to a persistent solution (very useful if you change your default printer frequently):

http://blog.onireon.it/thunderbird-ignores-system-default-printer-double-solution-use-configuration-editor-or-create-userjs-makes-it-persistent/

Nerdy cheers.
The O.