32bit and 64bit Printer Drivers

[fil_b]

Hi all

 

We mainly use 32 bit systems for staff and students to use at school

 

But we have one or two 64bit machines that we want to apply printers to from our print server.

 

I know under sharing you can add addtional drivers (one being 64bit), would this help in adding it self to a 64 bit machine

 

Been trying to set it up but its still not adding it self.

 

I can see the driver on the server setting with the x86 drivers we are using

 

Thanks

 

Feebs

[AngryTechnician]

You will definitely need to add the 64-bit drivers as an additional driver on the server before you can connect to it using a 64-bit workstation.

 

Note that Microsoft recommend you use the same version number of the driver for both the x86 and x64 drivers, and that you do not mix and match between PS/PCL drivers.

[soapyfish]

There are two ways of adding drivers from what I can see, using the "additional drivers" button inside the "Sharing" Tab of the printer properties. Or using the "New Driver" button on the "Advanced" tab of printer properties.

 

The error each time is

 

"The specified location does not contain a compatible software driver for your device. If the location contains a driver , make sure it is designed to work with 32bit systems.

 

 

I am using windows 2003 server 32bit and I have some new windows 7 64Bit laptops.

The aim is to enable the users to search the server for printer shares, right click and "connect" and have the server automatically send the station the correct driver.

[tmcd35]

The beauty of Virtual Machines and Windows Datacenter licenses. My recent solution to the problem? build a new 64bit VM as a print server for the 64bit clients

[soapyfish]

Great thanks, does anyone have any more practical advice ?

[AngryTechnician]

I always install x64 drivers from an x64 Windows 7 workstation, using the Print Management Console (included in the Remote Server Administration Tools). My advice would be to try that.

[Domino]

Doing it from a workstation is the only reliable way I've found.

 

I connect to the printer from the workstation, manually install the driver, then right click the printer, properties, add additional drivers and tick the x64 driver in the page there.