Automating Network Printer Setup

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

SUMMARY

Unattended Setup is not designed to install printers. However with little effort, you can configure your environment to install a network printer when a user logs on to a computer running Windows NT for the first time.

MORE INFORMATION

Use the following steps to configure your environment to install a network printer when a user logs on to a computer running Windows NT for the first time:

1. Install and share the desired printer on the Windows NT server.

2. Use System Policy Editor to create a profile:

   a. From the File menu, click New Policy.

   b. Double-click Default Computer.

   c. Open System\Run.

   d. Put a check mark in the box next to the Run option.

   e. Click the Show button.

   f. Click the Add button.

   g. Type a descriptive name for the item.

   h. Add the UNC path pointing to the Windows NT 4.0 printer share.

   i. Click OK 3 times.

   j. From the File menu, click Save and save the file to Ntconfig.pol

         located in the directory used for the NetLogon share.
   

         For example:
   

            <servername>\admin$\system32\repl\import\scripts\ntconfig.pol)
   
      NOTE: Ntconfig.pol must exist in the NETLOGON share of all domain
      controllers. This may require manually copying the file to the correct
      location or setting up replication.
   
      For additional information on configuring Windows NT for directory
      replication, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge
      Base:
   
         ARTICLE-ID: Q101602
         TITLE     : Configuring Windows NT for Replication
   
   

3. Modify the local user account database on the workstations such that the domain user is a member of the local Administrators group. This modification is necessary because you must be an administrator to install a printer.

The above procedures can be modified to work in environments that are not organized by a domain. This modification would require enabling manual profiles. Refer to System Policy Editor Help for more information on Manual Updates.