Deploying Printers to XP using GPO

[AlexPilot]

I am trying to use the group policy editor to deploy printers based on the OU of the computers. This is working okay in windows 7 but not in XP. I have added pushprinterconnections.exe to the startup script, and applied a windows update I read was needed somewhere.

Does anyone else do this that can think of anything I may have missed?

[danrhodes]

We run as a startup script:

RUNDLL32 PRINTUI.DLL,PrintUIEntry /ga /n "\\ServerName\PriterShareName"

[jamesreedersmith]

Have you installed client side extensions on the xp clients?

[AlexPilot]

Have you installed client side extensions on the xp clients?

Yep we applied it via the windows update.

[sparkeh]

Hmm yeah I seem to remember having a bit of an issue with this.
First up run gpupdate to see if the gpo is being picked up, also check event log for any gpo processing errors.

[AngryITGuy]

Are you running the script with the '-log' parameter?

This will create a log file at %Windir%\temp\PpcMachine.log which enables logging of the printer connection deployment. It might help with troubleshooting the issue.

We use GPO deployment for printers here too and have only ever had one issue which from research on the web was sorted by disabling the Point and Print Restrictions group policy found at User Configurations | Administrative Templates | Control Panel | Printers

Hope this helps.

[chazzy2501]

It's easier to deploy printers using group policy preferences you can add item level targeting as well. The bonus with GPOP is that you can delete all existing printers and set a default.

printers.png

[Technical-Edge]

We spent ages trying to get printers to connect using GPO with varying degrees of success and misery. Now we just use kix or simple vbs scripts. It works, reliably, every time. Cant ask for more than that!