Can I automatically install printers by GPO?

[PScottC]

Is there any way that I can automatically install printers by creating a GPO in AD?

PSC

 

[neutec]

I use a VBS script and excute it when users log on. Here is a simple VB script that would help you.

Set WshNetwork = CreateObject("WScript.Network")
PrinterPath = "\\Server\Printer"
PrinterDriver = "PrinterDriver"
WshNetwork.AddWindowsPrinterConnection PrinterPath, PrinterDriver
WshNetwork.SetDefaultPrinter "\\Server\Printer"

In the above script, replace PrinterDriver with the name of the driver you are adding and \\Server\Printer with the name of the shared printer and server:

Save and execute the script in a Visual Basic (VBS) file.
NOTE: The parameter PrinterDriver must have the exact name of the driver as it appears in the left column of the Ntprint.inf file.

For example, if you want to install a Cannon Bubble-Jet BJ-230, then the line in the script should read PrinterDriver = "Canon Bubble-Jet BJ-230".

 

[j93saturn]

Not sure about GPO, but here are a few other suggestions:

1)DOS batch file. It only maps printers to LPT ports though.

2)Purchase WinBatch. WinBatch is a scripting lanuage and with the proper extenders can be used to write an exe that will install printers for you.

3)Registry editing. This one is fun and somewhat cumbersome. First of all if you have any user profiles on the machine already, this doesn't work unless you delete them. This only works when you log on for the first time as a new user to the machine. Basically, you log on as a generic user. Set-up the printers you want the computer to have access to. Then start on #5 on this KB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307016

4)Something I found on MS KB when looking for KB article for #3 suggestion:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;158398

I have used suggestions 1-3. They all work, but they were all used in different situtations.



James
MCP, MCSE