Default printer keeps changing - second request ...

[Blue Max]

When we originally setup one of our computers it did not have a local
printer. Therefore, we assigned one of the network printers as its default
printer. Since that time, we have connected a local printer and designated
the local printer as the default printer. However, whenever we go to print
a document we find that the default printer has automatically changed back
to the network printer instead of the local printer! Any thoughts on why
the default setting is being continually changed back to the network
printer?

 

[Alan Morris [MSFT]]

what is listed at the registry location

HKey_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Device

--
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.

 

[Paul Baker [MVP, Windows - Networking]]

I have read reports of certain badly-behaved printer drivers changing the
default printer (using this registry entry) without user consent.

Paul

what is listed at the registry location

HKey_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Device

--
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.

When we originally setup one of our computers it did not have a local
printer. Therefore, we assigned one of the network printers as its
default
printer. Since that time, we have connected a local printer and
designated
the local printer as the default printer. However, whenever we go to
print
a document we find that the default printer has automatically changed
back
to the network printer instead of the local printer! Any thoughts on why
the default setting is being continually changed back to the network
printer?

 

[Blue Max]

what is listed at the registry location

HKey_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Device

***********************
INLINE REPLY
***********************
Thanks, Alan, it is nice to know where this item might be stored.
Ultimately, we resolved the problem by deleting all the remote printers
(automatically added by Explorer.exe per your reply to our other post) and
then re-adding the remote printers manually. This seems to have overcome
the problem of the local default printer always being changed back to the
remote printer.

However, still not sure what triggers the creation of the automated
printers. I am aware of the "Folder Options" settings (Tools > Folder
Options > View Tab), but selecting or deselecting the option doesn't seem to
immediately generate the automated printer entries. It would be nice to
know how one could force the automatic regeneration of the automated
printers. Also wondering if the presence of a manual entry for the remote
printer prevents Explorer.Exe from regenerating an automatic counterpart?

Thanks

**************************

--
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.

When we originally setup one of our computers it did not have a local
printer. Therefore, we assigned one of the network printers as its
default
printer. Since that time, we have connected a local printer and
designated
the local printer as the default printer. However, whenever we go to
print
a document we find that the default printer has automatically changed
back
to the network printer instead of the local printer! Any thoughts on why
the default setting is being continually changed back to the network
printer?

 

[Alan Morris [MSFT]]

The only AUTO printers that will get created are those that have an inbox
driver. I don't know how or when the explorer processes wanders around the
network and adds the file shares and printer shares.

There is no printer setting for this, it's part of the explorer process.


--
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.

what is listed at the registry location

HKey_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Device

***********************
INLINE REPLY
***********************
Thanks, Alan, it is nice to know where this item might be stored.
Ultimately, we resolved the problem by deleting all the remote printers
(automatically added by Explorer.exe per your reply to our other post) and
then re-adding the remote printers manually. This seems to have overcome
the problem of the local default printer always being changed back to the
remote printer.

However, still not sure what triggers the creation of the automated
printers. I am aware of the "Folder Options" settings (Tools > Folder
Options > View Tab), but selecting or deselecting the option doesn't seem
to immediately generate the automated printer entries. It would be nice
to know how one could force the automatic regeneration of the automated
printers. Also wondering if the presence of a manual entry for the remote
printer prevents Explorer.Exe from regenerating an automatic counterpart?

Thanks

**************************

--
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.

When we originally setup one of our computers it did not have a local
printer. Therefore, we assigned one of the network printers as its
default
printer. Since that time, we have connected a local printer and
designated
the local printer as the default printer. However, whenever we go to
print
a document we find that the default printer has automatically changed
back
to the network printer instead of the local printer! Any thoughts on
why
the default setting is being continually changed back to the network
printer?

 

[Paul Baker [MVP, Windows - Networking]]

What do you mean inbox driver?

Do you mean one with the appropriate driver for the appropriate OS already
installed on the client or available on the server?

Paul

The only AUTO printers that will get created are those that have an inbox
driver. I don't know how or when the explorer processes wanders around
the network and adds the file shares and printer shares.

There is no printer setting for this, it's part of the explorer process.


--
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.

what is listed at the registry location

HKey_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Device

***********************
INLINE REPLY
***********************
Thanks, Alan, it is nice to know where this item might be stored.
Ultimately, we resolved the problem by deleting all the remote printers
(automatically added by Explorer.exe per your reply to our other post)
and then re-adding the remote printers manually. This seems to have
overcome the problem of the local default printer always being changed
back to the remote printer.

However, still not sure what triggers the creation of the automated
printers. I am aware of the "Folder Options" settings (Tools > Folder
Options > View Tab), but selecting or deselecting the option doesn't seem
to immediately generate the automated printer entries. It would be nice
to know how one could force the automatic regeneration of the automated
printers. Also wondering if the presence of a manual entry for the
remote printer prevents Explorer.Exe from regenerating an automatic
counterpart?

Thanks

**************************

--
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.

When we originally setup one of our computers it did not have a local
printer. Therefore, we assigned one of the network printers as its
default
printer. Since that time, we have connected a local printer and
designated
the local printer as the default printer. However, whenever we go to
print
a document we find that the default printer has automatically changed
back
to the network printer instead of the local printer! Any thoughts on
why
the default setting is being continually changed back to the network
printer?

 

[Alan Morris [MSFT]]

inbox drivers are those included with XP. If the driver is not part of the
driver.cab file the connection will not be added.

--
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.

What do you mean inbox driver?

Do you mean one with the appropriate driver for the appropriate OS already
installed on the client or available on the server?

Paul

The only AUTO printers that will get created are those that have an inbox
driver. I don't know how or when the explorer processes wanders around
the network and adds the file shares and printer shares.

There is no printer setting for this, it's part of the explorer process.


--
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.

what is listed at the registry location

HKey_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Windows\Device
***********************
INLINE REPLY
***********************
Thanks, Alan, it is nice to know where this item might be stored.
Ultimately, we resolved the problem by deleting all the remote printers
(automatically added by Explorer.exe per your reply to our other post)
and then re-adding the remote printers manually. This seems to have
overcome the problem of the local default printer always being changed
back to the remote printer.

However, still not sure what triggers the creation of the automated
printers. I am aware of the "Folder Options" settings (Tools > Folder
Options > View Tab), but selecting or deselecting the option doesn't
seem to immediately generate the automated printer entries. It would be
nice to know how one could force the automatic regeneration of the
automated printers. Also wondering if the presence of a manual entry
for the remote printer prevents Explorer.Exe from regenerating an
automatic counterpart?

Thanks

**************************

--
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.

When we originally setup one of our computers it did not have a local
printer. Therefore, we assigned one of the network printers as its
default
printer. Since that time, we have connected a local printer and
designated
the local printer as the default printer. However, whenever we go to
print
a document we find that the default printer has automatically changed
back
to the network printer instead of the local printer! Any thoughts on
why
the default setting is being continually changed back to the network
printer?

 

[Paul Baker [MVP, Windows - Networking]]

Alan,

inbox drivers are those included with XP. If the driver is not part of
the driver.cab file the connection will not be added.

Aha. Tganks for sharing that with us.

Paul