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Sharing printers in Windows 2000

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by c_m_s

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I have 12 computers on my LAN that are dedicated to training. Each computer is running Windows 2000 and eight of them have printers attached as local printers on LPT1. The printers are of mixed manufacturer and models. There are two login accounts on each computer, "Administrator" and "User".
In order to conserve space and make more efficient use of the printers, I would like to share one printer with two computers as the default printer for each and have it immediately available on boot-up.
When I log on as "Administrator" and follow the instructions outlined in Windows Help for Printer Sharing, which are too lengthy to present here, I can designate a printer on another computer as the default printer and that designation will remain through boot-ups and log-ins. When I log on as "User" and follow the same instructions, I am NOT allowed to designate the printer on the same computer as the local default printer. Additionally, when I do a search for the computer, sign-on as administrator, connect the printer, and set it as the default printer to this computer it is only valid until I reboot or log-off and log back in. The designated printer is shown in the Printers Folder as the default, but if you send a job to the printer it never prints, and I have to repeat the search again.
I desire to be able to log-on as "User" and have the default printer be connected and able to print without having to do the search thing. Where am I going wrong?

8 replies

by cg it

First, I'm going to assume your using a peer to peer network [Workgroup Domain]and not a W2K Domain Controller with Active Directory network environment. Log on as a user on the client computer you wish to find and setup a network shared printer. Setup the network share printer that way. Logging in as an admin saves the local computer settings in Documents and Settings for the Admin account only. Not the user account or any other account in Documents and Settings. [Much the same way as admin desk top preferences are saved in Documents and settings.]

Maybe someone else will have a better way.

by cg it

ooops almost forgot, disable "prevent users from installing printer drivers in the local security policy,user rights assignments, security options. [default is disabled, but check it].If it's not disabled, a user wont' be able to install printer drivers [and saved in the users documents and settings] locally for the network shared printer.

Also, on the computer that the printer is attached to, you've designated that printer to be shared across the network? [dumb question but still had to ask]. Peer to peer, settings for users are set and saved locally, not on a server.

by c_m_s

Printer drivers will install and the printer works correctly as long as I don't log-off "User". Once I log-off I have to reinstate/designate the printer again (as "User"). As "Administrator" I can log-on and off and printer remains default and continues to work.

by michaeltubs

Assumption one is that you are installing the printers as a network printer.
Install as a local printer and create a new port.
ie \\computer_name\printer_name.
Set this as the default printer.

by c_m_s

Thanks for the response. This will setup/designate the printer. My problem is that when logged on as "Administrator" I can log-on/off and keep the printer but will not keep the printer when logged on as "User". The printer shows as the default in the Printers Folder but when I send a Print job to it I am told that "No Printer is Connected".

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