Printers, Domains and Users

[Stannerack]

I run a network of about 200 PC's. We are starting to migrate to Win2k pro. Our servers are NT4 based.
I have 4 x new HP4100 printers hanging off Intel Netport express print servers. They have shares created for them on the NT server.

When I log on as a domain admin onto one of the win2k pro clients, I can install one of the printers no probs. But when I log on as any other user to that client, or even as another administrator, there are no printers installed.

Any ideas please? Thanks

 

[pbxman]

This is default behavior since shared printers are objects of the profile being used. They are not local to the machine..

There is a way to change this behavior though, and it's undocumented.

To make a shared network printer the default for all users:

go to "Start, settings, printers, add printer"..choose "Local Printer". Then, create a new port with the UNC pathname of the actual shared printer you'd like to use. Name it the UNC name, then the 'Display name" second. Then, pick the printer driver to use, set as default, and continue. This way, any and ALL users that logon to the machine will use the same printer. Let me know if you need more assistance with this. I may have skipped over a step or 2, but if you're familiar with Win2K's add printer functionality - you should be able to get throught it without a hitch..

Cheers.
Pbxman
Systems Administrator

Please let Tek-Tips members know their posts were helpful.

 

[InfrArch]

It will definitely helps:

1.Create a local user(on one of the w2kp PC) with an administrative rights (put him into local administrators group)
2. set up all the settings including printers installation,desktop appearance, start menu appearance and so on (mean, all the setting that are designed for ordinary users)
3. copy ALL(!!!!) from c:\documents and settings\<createdusername> to c:\documents and settings\default user
4.all the users that will be created on the local PC will get that settings.

Or in your server environment create a one (or more - for load balancing) roaming profile for all the users.

viktors.kozlovs@hansabanka.lv
MCSE+I

 

[Stannerack]

Both suggestions work great.

My network is running at a school. This means that any kid could log on to any PC in the school. I can't have local profiles.

The suggestion with creating a network port on each PC seems to work. I have to find some way of getting that out to 50 other PC's.

I am trying to use Storagesoft's Imagecast with AppInstall. With a bit of luck, it should work.

Many thanks