Set a Default printer and general settings for all user profiles within registry?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mr D
  • Start date Start date
M

Mr D

Is it possible to edit the registry to configure a printer and its paper
size and tray etc to be a default printer for all users who log into a
workstation?

I work for a large company and we are upgrading network printers in
different departments.
All workstations are on a domain, most workstations are connected to more
than one network printer and I have administrator rights to allow me to
remove and install printers .

When I remove old network printers and install new network printers
I log in to the workstations as an administrator and remove the old network
printer drivers install the new network printer drivers I then set the
default printer settings to the correct paper size and tray etc and make it
the default printer.

That works fine for my account but when any users next log in to the
workstation their printer is not the same default printer and the
preferences for paper size and tray etc are not the same as my account?

I know that you can create batch files and scripts but we are not allowed to
do this within the network security protocols.
Is there a way to edit the registry so that all existing users and new users
log in to a workstation they have a certain printer set to default and set
to the correct paper size and tray?
 
Is it possible to edit the registry to configure a printer and its paper
size and tray etc to be a default printer for all users who log into a
workstation?
Click to expand...

Hi Mr D

There's a method here that sounds good (no registry editing or batch
files involved :-):
<http://windows.ittoolbox.com/groups...-a-default-printer-for-all-users-in-xp-160666>

This Microsoft article discusses how to alter the printer settings in
the default user profile for any newly-created users:
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/252388>

Hope this helps. Let us know if it works!
 
Hello

Unfortunatley the company does not allow us to use scripts, policies or
batch files etc to setup printers.

All i want to be able to do is configure a way in the registry to change
each users printer settings to default to one printer and its settings. The
reason i want to do this is so that if they remove a printer in the future
it will be removed the details in the registry.
 
Hi

Sorry links no good!
It involves using policies and only works on new user profiles, there are
over 10 profiles already created on each workstation which can not be
deleted and recreated due to the amount of hassle it woul cause to customise
accounts.
We are not allowed to create or edit any policies or create batch files or
scripts etc so it would need to be done through the registry.

It is very frustrating that when you install a new printer it doesn't give
you the option to set it as default for all users who log into the
workstation and keeps the paper size and tray the same.

If there is a way to edit the registry to make sure everyone user account
has the same default printer.

Thanks

Mr D
 
Unfortunatley the company does not allow us to use scripts, policies or
batch files etc to setup printers.
Click to expand...

The first link I gave you didn't use any of those, or require deleting
and recreating your existing users. It just involved creating a new user
group and adding existing users to it. I'm sorry if it's no good for
you, though.
All i want to be able to do is configure a way in the registry to change
each users printer settings to default to one printer and its settings. The
reason i want to do this is so that if they remove a printer in the future
it will be removed the details in the registry.
Click to expand...

According to the Microsoft article printer settings are held in each
user's ntuser.dat, the "current user" section of the registry which is
going to change each time a new user logs in. I have an idea that might
possibly work. . . get back to you later if that's okay (cats need
feeding!)
 
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