Network printing in XP/2000

[Bruce]

Hi,

We are a College of Further Education in England. We are in the
process of upgrading our network from NT4 servers and Win95 clients
(single domain, no roaming profiles) to Win2000 servers and XP clients
(single domain, with roaming profiles)

We have computer rooms of say 16 PCs per room and one printer per
room. We had it setup so that each PC would by default print to the
printer in the same room. However, with XP we have noticed that what
network printers are setup on a PC (and what default printer you have)
depends on who is logged on. ie they are a part of the user's profile.

Is there anyway we can fix this?

Ie. PC called RoomAPC1 in Room A should by default always print to the
network printer in Room A?

I've been thinking this might have to be done in the logon script?

Any advice appreciated,

Thanks,

Bruce.

PS. When we had Win95 as clients we were used to doing all kinds of
things in the logon script, such as changing registry values and
running update.exe (a program to update the virus definition on the
client PCs). However, I'm thinking that we might not be able to do
these things when we move fully over to XP as the logon script is run
under the user's authority and therefore doesn't have permissions to
alter certain parts of the registry and also might not have permission
to run (and install) the update.exe. Am I right? If so how do we go
about changing registry values (relating to the local machine) on the
client PCs, is this all now done (somehow?) in Group Policy now?

 

[Ovid Bailey]

Bruce,

Couple of ways:

1. If you want to print directly to a printer that is
connected directly to the network (e.g., using a JetDirect
card or a Linksys Print Server), on the XP boxes under the
printer's properties, add a new LOCAL port, choose the
Standard TCP/IP Port type, then type the ip address of the
printer.

2. A similar method lets you use the server's print
services and management if you have shared the printer
through the server. On the XP boxes, under the printer's
properties, add a new LOCAL PORT. In the name, type the
URL of the printer (e.g., \\ClassRoomA\HPLaserJet6).

Ovid Bailey

 

[Bruce]

Hi,

We have Windows XP print servers so I used option 2 and it worked a
treat. However, the way you suggested didn't quite work (changing the
properties of a printer that was already setup). On the clients I had
to setup the printers fresh and set it up as if it was local and then
do new LOCAL PORT to the print server as you said. Thanks, it worked
well.

I did notice a slight possible problem though. If someone was as sat
at the print server and send a few jobs to print they would show up on
the print queue of the server but not on the print queue of other PCs
setup to print to that printer. Shouldn't they all have the same print
jobs listed for the same printer?

I don't know if this will be a problem or not.

Thanks a lot,

Bruce.