Printer Preferences - local default printer

[Simcfc73]

Hi,

I have gone over the printer preferences in the hope to make it easier to do default printers but its not working.

I have all my printers in one policy and item level tagging for each computer OU. The only users who have other printers are staff who have item level tagging for their security groups.

Deployment is fine for rooms with just deployed printers but any rooms with local printers get the deployed printers as default no matter what I try.

I have the tick box checked ..only if the local printer is not present... tried it with all disabled... loopback.... can't get it to work.

Looking at GP modelling it should work but I can't get it to.

Anyone got this working and can offer me advice?

[sukh]

Hi

Describe your set-up/env?
Server verison including SP?
Client machines including SP?
AD forest/domain level?

Thanks
Sukh

[Reaper]

Hi all

I am having a very similar problem. We are running Windows 2008 R2 SP1 server environment with Windows 7 Enterprise workstations and a forest/domain level of 2K8 R2. I have tried the various options with the GPP and even setting it to not default the printer if a local printer exists hasn't made any difference.



Thanks

[sukh]

Hi

Similar issue or the same?

I.e you cant set a default printer? If yes, which printer are you trying to set as default, local or one set via GPO?

Sukh

[Reaper]

Sorry I should have been clearer, currently in a couple of areas if a PC has a local USB connected printer it is ignored and the network printer that is attached at logon takes on the default role. It is ignoring the options to either not default it at all or just default when there isn't a local printer attached.

[sted]

i juts rename all local printers to "local printer" when i install them then use a vbs to set default

[sukh]

I assume you are using GPP to deploye the printers and they machine based andnot user based?

[Reaper]

We have moved away from using CON2PRT script and I'm trying to do this completely with GPP, for the most part it is working except for this one network printer. The printers are user based but the Item Level Targeting is based on Computer OU.

[AngryTechnician]

Have you installed any recent Group Policy Preferences hotfixes at all? Even the version that ships with SP1 is horribly defective in some areas, I wouldn't be surprised if this was bugged too.

Edit: try requesting the KB2460922 hotfix and install it on a machine to test. Ignore the description that it only fixes an x64 issue, there is an x86 version of the hotfix too and it contains all the previous GPP fixes.

[sukh]

@Reaper

Can you see the article below and check your settings. Post back.
Set Default Printer with Windows 2008 Server Group Policy Preferences - Set the Default Printer via Group Policy
Sukh

[Freedom]

I will tell you now that I have *never* been able to get this to work - post or pre SP1 install plus many a hotfix. I find GPP to be heavily bugged. I still use it but I just accept it's quirks as I have spent far too long trying to iron it out - please update this thread if you manage to get it to work properly

[Reaper]

@Suhk Checked through the link and my settings appear to be fine.
@AngryTechnician I'll try the hotfix shortly and see if that makes a difference.

The other annoying problem I've come up against with GPP is that if a workstation doesn't have a network printer assigned to it but does have a local printer, it doesn't default to the local printer!