make network printer connections available to all users

  • Thread starter Thread starter Glenn L
  • Start date Start date
G

Glenn L

I am struggling to find a way to make network printer connections on W2K pro
and Win XP available to all users who log into the machine.

Network printer connections are written to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER hive.

KB307016 explains how to put network printer connections into the default
user hive.
That fine when new users log into the machine.
But this does not help for existing users with established profiles.
Sure, I could load each users ntuser.dat and insert the reg file to get what
I want.


Lets say I have a department with 20 workstations and 2 printers, and 3
shifts.
This means I have 60 user profiles.

Now I add a new printer to the department. (served by a print server and
not to be installed as direct IP)

I would have to log into the workstations as each of the 60 users and make
the printer connections.

Isn't there a better way?

Isn't there a way to make network printer connections be stored in HKLM like
local printer connections are?
 
I am struggling to find a way to make network printer connections on W2K pro
and Win XP available to all users who log into the machine.

Network printer connections are written to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER hive.

KB307016 explains how to put network printer connections into the default
user hive.
That fine when new users log into the machine.
But this does not help for existing users with established profiles.
Sure, I could load each users ntuser.dat and insert the reg file to get what
I want.


Lets say I have a department with 20 workstations and 2 printers, and 3
shifts.
This means I have 60 user profiles.

Now I add a new printer to the department. (served by a print server and
not to be installed as direct IP)

I would have to log into the workstations as each of the 60 users and make
the printer connections.

Isn't there a better way?

Isn't there a way to make network printer connections be stored in HKLM like
local printer connections are?
Click to expand...


Try tip 672 in the 'Tips & Tricks' at http://www.jsiinc.com


Jerold Schulman
Windows Server MVP
JSI, Inc.
http://www.jsiinc.com
 
I think this might work try creating a .bat file with the "\\ path to shared
printer name" and put the bat file in this folder or in a folder inside this
folder C:\WINNT\SYSVOL\sysvol\"yourdomain"\scripts then in active directory
users and computers in the users profile put in the path to the bat file.we
use this so when they log on it will automatically map their drives to what
we what.And in our domain we have the second folder named sysvol in the path
shared

For Example this is ours:

-Path where .bat file is
stored=C:\WINNT\SYSVOL\sysvol\"OurDomain"\scripts\users

-Then in active directory users and computers in the users profile tab we
have this users\user.bat

then when they login they get the drives that we mapped for them.example of
mapping of drive NET USE T: \\"ourdomain"\stuff$

so when they logon they get the T drive mapped to the stuff folder

if you can map your printers i think when they logon it would work tell me
how this works if you do it
 
Glenn L said:
I am struggling to find a way to make network printer connections on W2K
pro and Win XP available to all users who log into the machine.

Network printer connections are written to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER hive.

KB307016 explains how to put network printer connections into the default
user hive.
That fine when new users log into the machine.
But this does not help for existing users with established profiles.
Sure, I could load each users ntuser.dat and insert the reg file to get
what I want.


Lets say I have a department with 20 workstations and 2 printers, and 3
shifts.
This means I have 60 user profiles.

Now I add a new printer to the department. (served by a print server and
not to be installed as direct IP)

I would have to log into the workstations as each of the 60 users and make
the printer connections.

Isn't there a better way?

Isn't there a way to make network printer connections be stored in HKLM
like local printer connections are?
Click to expand...

Hi Glenn,

Have a look here. I think this is what you are looking for:

http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/NetPrinterAllUsers.htm
 
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