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Auto installed printers in XP

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by pqw

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When I install a network printer on an XP machine, I end up with the printer I installed, plus an identical printer with the label of "Auto...." Can anyone explain what this auto installed printer is all about? The only reference to this I could find on Microsoft's Knowledge Base was in reference to running Citrix, which I am not. Thanks for any info.

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by sdrapeau

By default, Windows XP scans the network for shared printers and installs them automatically (thus the "auto" prefix).

To disable the automatic search for network printers and folders:
1. Click Start, click Control Panel, click Appearance and Themes, and click Folder Options to open the Folder Options dialog box.
2. Click the View tab.
3. In the Advanced Settings list, click to clear the Automatically Search for Network Folders and Printers check box.
4. Click OK.

(excerpt from Microsoft KB 320138)

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