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Adding local printers

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Here is what happens.... I start installing a local printer and go through all the steps but when I finally click Finish, I get the message that says "Printer driver was not installed. Operation could not be completed."

I've tried setting it upto print to file, lpt1, and an ip address.

Any ideas?

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by timwalsh

From what information you have give, I would suspect that you have a Group Policy issue. You didn't mention whether you were connected to a network or whether you had any admin privileges (on the local machine or domain). So, some further info foryou and a couple different routes to take:
I found 4 different Group Policy settings that could affect your ability to add a printer. If your are connected to network domain, there are 4 different levels at which each of these settings can be applied (policies can be applied at the local computer, site, domain, and organizational unit (OU)level and are applied in that order. Thus a policy applied at a lower level can be over-ridden at a higher level).If you don't have admin privileges on at least the local computer, you won't be able affect any of these settings without the help of someone who does.
So as as not to totally leave you hanging without an answer to your question, I'm going to assume you have a stand alone computer and you have admin privilieges (i.e. you know the administrator password) on that computer.
1. Go to Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Local Security Policy.
2. Open Local Policies | User Rights Assignment
3. About half way down on the right you will see a policy lableld "Load and unload device drivers". If i'm not mistaken this defaults to Administrator. This setting determines who can load any drive (printer, video, sound card, modem, etc.). Also you will notice 2 columns labeled "Local Setting" and "Effective Setting." If these differ (ad you are connected to a network), it probably means this policy has been applied at a higher level and you won't be able to change it.
(continued)

by timwalsh

(continued)
If it's only defined at the local computer level, your options are: log on the computer as an administrator to load drivers; add you user ID as being able to load drivers; Undefine the policy.
4. The next setting to check is located inLocal Policies | Security Options.5.Toward the bottom on the right side you will see a policy labeled "Unsigned driver installation behavior." Driver signing is Microsofts way of saying "This driver has been submitted to us by the manuacturer for testing. We have determined that this drive is authentic and does work with this operating system." The problem creeps in because not all drivers are submitted to Microsoft and Microsoft itslef does not sign all the drivers it develops itself. If this policy is defined, there are three options. They are (basically): "I don't care, go ahead and load it anyway."; "Warn me so I can determine whether to load it or not."; and "If it's not signed, I don't want it on my computer." By default, this policy is not defined.
6. The remianing 2 Policy settings I mentioned aren't normally set on the local computer so I won't drag this on.
Again if there are differences between the Local Setting and Effective Setting, these policies were defined ata higher level and you won't be able to get them changed without your domain administrators help.

by evileyejoe

Sorry.. I'm on a domain and I have Admin rights on local and domain.

Load and unload is for admins in both local and effective.

changed the second setting you mentioned to warn me but I still get the same message. Any other ideas?

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