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Printer Drivers

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5 replies

by colglazier.sa

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I have several Win2000 machines on a network, connected to an NT4 server. I have 100 users who logon with their own ids. My problem is, whenever I change a printer, I need to have each user log in and reinstall the appropriate print drivers under their user account. If I go to c:\Documents & Settings\AllUSers\Desktop I can add a shortcut icon that will appear on ever users' screen. Is here a way to do something similar with the printer dirvers? Is there any way to avoid having to install for every user individually? Help.. (I will grant points for valid answers).

5 replies

by aaron_wurthmann

Shoot did you say you have Windows 2000 machines on an NT network? Darn if you upgraded your network to AD you could use the Group Policy method to push those drivers and any software you wanted for that matter. I know because I just started doing this last week after asking how here.

https://www.techrepublic.com/forumqa/thread_detail.jhtml?thread_id=30971

Otherwise what you could do is to right a logon script that executes the driver install or at the very least launches your shortcut that you mentioned. This way you at least don't have to ask your users to install the drivers. Example of logon script method for the shorcut.

explorer "net path to driver_install.ink"

by umbral-echo

If these are Windows NT 4 Workstation or Windows 2000 Professional clients, they will query the print server (If you are using one) each time they print to see if newer drivers have been installed. This is automatic and requires no additional configuration. All you need to do is update the drivers on on the server machine and the whole network will follow suit.

If you are NOT using a print server configuration (each machine is set to print directly to the print device) you should consider switching to one. There are tons of inherent benefits over and above the one I just mentioned.

by colglazier.sa

Thank you both for your help. I also found that if I log in as the Administrator and install the printers under that account, every individual user who logs in later will automatically be given those printers to use.

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