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Shared Printers and the Registry

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jmlane

IS-IT--Management
Aug 9, 2001
25
US
Why, when I install a shared printer in my OS (Windows 2000 Professional), does the regestry save this information in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER instead of the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. Because it is storing the information in the current user, none of the other users are able to see the connection and thus must install the printer manually. This is a problem since in a lab of ten computers and a possibility of 700 different users, there would have to be 7000 installs performed per shared printer. I tried adding a key in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE that was identical to the key for the printers in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER, but was unsuccessful. If anyone can think of a way around this problem, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance.
 
Log on as LOCAL ADMINISTARTOR and install the shared printer and then see if other users have access to ot. You may need to deligate who can use it (Right click on the shared printer and go to Security and add the users there. James Collins
Systems Support Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.
 
if i logon as a locally, i no longer have access to the domain, thus not able to add shared printers from that domain. security on the printers is very loose, and all domain users have print access. thank you for trying, or please elaborate.
 
Ad a Domain Administrator (Or even a domain user) to the machine and give them local Admin rights. That way you can log on as local admin and still have domain access. James Collins
Systems Support Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.
 
when you login to an NT machine, all "temporary" changes are made to your profile only.

For instance - if youy logged into it as an admin, and installed a local printer...all users would have access to it.

Since you're logged in as a specific user, you connect to a networked (shared) printer, and that is saved ONLY in that user's profile. This is how NT works..and it's best this way.

If you want to have a networked printer available to "all users" you must adjust your settings accordingly. A shared resource is only meant to be shared by the user attempting to access it...this is default behavior, and posed nothing out of the ordinary in the world of NT operating systems.
 
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