Need to install LOCAL printer for all users

[Mark Lebowitz]

I have a Windows XP Pro (Service Pack 2, if that matters) graphics specialty
workstation on my Windows 2000 domain. I have the same problem that several
other people have posted here, where I want anyone who logs into that
computer to be able to use its locally-connected HP PhotoSmart 7900 color
inkjet printer. But when XP is connected to a Windows domain, nobody who
doesn't have administrator rights to the computer can install the printer;
besides that, I really don't want to have to get involved every time
somebody who's never used that computer before suddenly wants to print on
it.

PLEASE do not direct me to Bruce Sanderson's article at
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/NetPrinterAllUsers.htm. I know about this
article. (I even modified a version of the .cmd file it refers to that's
somewhat easier to use on my network.) This article only discusses adding
NETWORK printers, and I need to deal with a LOCAL printer (USB connected, if
that matters). I'm sure the answer is still hidden somewhere in rundll32
printui.dll PrintUIEntry, but when I found a list of the available switches
for it, my eyes just glazed over. Please tell me how to do the following,
which I will do from the command line while logged in as the domain
administrator:

1. Use rundll32 printui.dll PrintUIEntry to get a list of LOCALLY connected
printers, so I can figure out what Windows expects me to call it.

2. Use rundll32 printui.dll PrintUIEntry again to install that printer for
all users.

After that, I understand that will have to manually restart the Spooler
service.

TIA!

Mark Lebowitz
Testa Produce, Inc.

 

[Bruce Sanderson]

Local printers are (or at least are supposed to be) automatically available
to any user that logs on to the computer, as long as they have "Print"
permission. There should not be any need for any user to "install" a Local
printer that is already installed on that computer.

Check the permissions on the printer:

Everyone should have Print
Creator Owner should have Manage Documents

Sometimes, software associated with a printer (which may be more than just a
driver) is not written for "secure environments" and requires Modify
permission on folders that users don't normally have access to. Not sure if
this is the case with this particular printer. A utility such as filemon
from System Internals can help track down these aberations.

What kind of port is this printer connected to (parallel, USB, Standard
TCP/IP etc.)?