Can anyone explain Point and Print and Vista?

[Guest]

I'm working with several Vista Ultimate systems to test just how they react
when connecting to printers on a Windows 2003 R2 server. We have many HP
Laserjets, Xerox WorkCenter Pro's among others. Some times the printers
connect and install without issue, other times we get errors until we play
with the driver on the server, they we can connect.

I've read a bit about Point and Print and it appears that the process should
be that when a client (XP, 2003 , Vista) connects to a print server, the
driver date stamp / version is compared to see what driver should be used. I
can't seem to find the scope of this comparison, that is, is it first looking
for the driver "name" or some other parameters? Do the driver names need to
match in the first place before the timestamp comparison begins?

I'd sure like to know a bit more of the process before unleashing Vista on
the hordes.

 

[Alan Morris [MSFT]]

Yes Sandy, the driver name must match in order for the inbox equivalent
Vista driver to be installed on the local system. If the driver does not
exist on Vista, the driver will be downloaded from the server. If the
driver name is the same, but the files are different, then the driver will
be loaded from the server.

There is a new twist to the Point and Print Restriction policy on Vista
(default policy setting is full security). If you have been experimenting
you have also seen the Install Driver prompt and the Admin elevation prompt.

Now back to the HPs and Xerox printers. Xerox first, the WorkCentre Pro
drivers update a dyc file that can cause the client to require an updated
version of the file. The file is some place holder file. This file exists
on their Win2k3 drivers as well as the Vista inbox drivers.

Some HP devices contain a cfg file. I have seen this file get installed on
a machine with a 1990 date stamp. Other times it's got the correct date.



--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Guest]

Alan,

Thanks for the clarification. This will help in planning the printing for
our Vista clients. Regarding the Xerox, dyc file point you made, will we need
to do anything other than obtaining the latest Win2k3 driver from Xerox to
allow our Vista clients a smooth ride?
--
Sandy Wood
Orange County District Attorney

Yes Sandy, the driver name must match in order for the inbox equivalent
Vista driver to be installed on the local system. If the driver does not
exist on Vista, the driver will be downloaded from the server. If the
driver name is the same, but the files are different, then the driver will
be loaded from the server.

There is a new twist to the Point and Print Restriction policy on Vista
(default policy setting is full security). If you have been experimenting
you have also seen the Install Driver prompt and the Admin elevation prompt.

Now back to the HPs and Xerox printers. Xerox first, the WorkCentre Pro
drivers update a dyc file that can cause the client to require an updated
version of the file. The file is some place holder file. This file exists
on their Win2k3 drivers as well as the Vista inbox drivers.

Some HP devices contain a cfg file. I have seen this file get installed on
a machine with a 1990 date stamp. Other times it's got the correct date.



--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Alan Morris [MSFT]]

I'll ping Xerox. I am not sure how they plan to address this since the file
does get updated with configuration information and a driver update is
required on the client at that time.

How do you have you Point and Print Restrictions policy defined?

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Alan,

Thanks for the clarification. This will help in planning the printing for
our Vista clients. Regarding the Xerox, dyc file point you made, will we
need
to do anything other than obtaining the latest Win2k3 driver from Xerox to
allow our Vista clients a smooth ride?
--
Sandy Wood
Orange County District Attorney

Yes Sandy, the driver name must match in order for the inbox equivalent
Vista driver to be installed on the local system. If the driver does not
exist on Vista, the driver will be downloaded from the server. If the
driver name is the same, but the files are different, then the driver
will
be loaded from the server.

There is a new twist to the Point and Print Restriction policy on Vista
(default policy setting is full security). If you have been
experimenting
you have also seen the Install Driver prompt and the Admin elevation
prompt.

Now back to the HPs and Xerox printers. Xerox first, the WorkCentre Pro
drivers update a dyc file that can cause the client to require an updated
version of the file. The file is some place holder file. This file
exists
on their Win2k3 drivers as well as the Vista inbox drivers.

Some HP devices contain a cfg file. I have seen this file get installed
on
a machine with a 1990 date stamp. Other times it's got the correct date.



--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.

I'm working with several Vista Ultimate systems to test just how they
react
when connecting to printers on a Windows 2003 R2 server. We have many
HP
Laserjets, Xerox WorkCenter Pro's among others. Some times the printers
connect and install without issue, other times we get errors until we
play
with the driver on the server, they we can connect.

I've read a bit about Point and Print and it appears that the process
should
be that when a client (XP, 2003 , Vista) connects to a print server,
the
driver date stamp / version is compared to see what driver should be
used.
I
can't seem to find the scope of this comparison, that is, is it first
looking
for the driver "name" or some other parameters? Do the driver names
need
to
match in the first place before the timestamp comparison begins?

I'd sure like to know a bit more of the process before unleashing Vista
on
the hordes.

 

[Guest]

Alan,

We have not configured our Point and Print GPO. It's the default settings
right now. We've got a Windows 2003 R2 Domain and the only Vista machines are
our IT group machines so far.

One more question while I have your ear. I've got a handful of 64-bit Vista
clients. I'm assuming I should probably get out the Windows 2003 R2 CD and
install some 64-bit drivers to our print server. Would that take care of my
64-bit clients?
--
Sandy Wood
Orange County District Attorney

I'll ping Xerox. I am not sure how they plan to address this since the file
does get updated with configuration information and a driver update is
required on the client at that time.

How do you have you Point and Print Restrictions policy defined?

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Alan,

Thanks for the clarification. This will help in planning the printing for
our Vista clients. Regarding the Xerox, dyc file point you made, will we
need
to do anything other than obtaining the latest Win2k3 driver from Xerox to
allow our Vista clients a smooth ride?
--
Sandy Wood
Orange County District Attorney

Yes Sandy, the driver name must match in order for the inbox equivalent
Vista driver to be installed on the local system. If the driver does not
exist on Vista, the driver will be downloaded from the server. If the
driver name is the same, but the files are different, then the driver
will
be loaded from the server.

There is a new twist to the Point and Print Restriction policy on Vista
(default policy setting is full security). If you have been
experimenting
you have also seen the Install Driver prompt and the Admin elevation
prompt.

Now back to the HPs and Xerox printers. Xerox first, the WorkCentre Pro
drivers update a dyc file that can cause the client to require an updated
version of the file. The file is some place holder file. This file
exists
on their Win2k3 drivers as well as the Vista inbox drivers.

Some HP devices contain a cfg file. I have seen this file get installed
on
a machine with a 1990 date stamp. Other times it's got the correct date.



--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.

I'm working with several Vista Ultimate systems to test just how they
react
when connecting to printers on a Windows 2003 R2 server. We have many
HP
Laserjets, Xerox WorkCenter Pro's among others. Some times the printers
connect and install without issue, other times we get errors until we
play
with the driver on the server, they we can connect.

I've read a bit about Point and Print and it appears that the process
should
be that when a client (XP, 2003 , Vista) connects to a print server,
the
driver date stamp / version is compared to see what driver should be
used.
I
can't seem to find the scope of this comparison, that is, is it first
looking
for the driver "name" or some other parameters? Do the driver names
need
to
match in the first place before the timestamp comparison begins?

I'd sure like to know a bit more of the process before unleashing Vista
on
the hordes.

 

[Alan Morris [MSFT]]

Yes install the x64 drivers on the Windows 2003 print server. The x64
drivers are only on the x64 CD. If you have x64 Pro this CD has the same
x64 print drivers as Server.

The default Point and Print Restriction is enabled. Look at a Vista machine
for the new settings. One can set the authentication prompts or just make
it a warning.

The policy is under User, Administrative Templates, Control Panel,
Printers.

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Alan,

We have not configured our Point and Print GPO. It's the default settings
right now. We've got a Windows 2003 R2 Domain and the only Vista machines
are
our IT group machines so far.

One more question while I have your ear. I've got a handful of 64-bit
Vista
clients. I'm assuming I should probably get out the Windows 2003 R2 CD and
install some 64-bit drivers to our print server. Would that take care of
my
64-bit clients?
--
Sandy Wood
Orange County District Attorney

I'll ping Xerox. I am not sure how they plan to address this since the
file
does get updated with configuration information and a driver update is
required on the client at that time.

How do you have you Point and Print Restrictions policy defined?

--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.

Alan,

Thanks for the clarification. This will help in planning the printing
for
our Vista clients. Regarding the Xerox, dyc file point you made, will
we
need
to do anything other than obtaining the latest Win2k3 driver from Xerox
to
allow our Vista clients a smooth ride?
--
Sandy Wood
Orange County District Attorney


:

Yes Sandy, the driver name must match in order for the inbox
equivalent
Vista driver to be installed on the local system. If the driver does
not
exist on Vista, the driver will be downloaded from the server. If the
driver name is the same, but the files are different, then the driver
will
be loaded from the server.

There is a new twist to the Point and Print Restriction policy on
Vista
(default policy setting is full security). If you have been
experimenting
you have also seen the Install Driver prompt and the Admin elevation
prompt.

Now back to the HPs and Xerox printers. Xerox first, the WorkCentre
Pro
drivers update a dyc file that can cause the client to require an
updated
version of the file. The file is some place holder file. This file
exists
on their Win2k3 drivers as well as the Vista inbox drivers.

Some HP devices contain a cfg file. I have seen this file get
installed
on
a machine with a 1990 date stamp. Other times it's got the correct
date.



--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.

I'm working with several Vista Ultimate systems to test just how
they
react
when connecting to printers on a Windows 2003 R2 server. We have
many
HP
Laserjets, Xerox WorkCenter Pro's among others. Some times the
printers
connect and install without issue, other times we get errors until
we
play
with the driver on the server, they we can connect.

I've read a bit about Point and Print and it appears that the
process
should
be that when a client (XP, 2003 , Vista) connects to a print server,
the
driver date stamp / version is compared to see what driver should be
used.
I
can't seem to find the scope of this comparison, that is, is it
first
looking
for the driver "name" or some other parameters? Do the driver names
need
to
match in the first place before the timestamp comparison begins?

I'd sure like to know a bit more of the process before unleashing
Vista
on
the hordes.