Installing HP Colour Laserjet c3525n using inf files

[LeightonJames]

Hi all

 

I have a networked printer in one of my schools and i am trying to automate the installation of it through a batch file.

 

I have to install it through it's IP Address (no print servers unfortunately). This is fine i have got a registry key which creates the port:

 

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors\Standard TCP/IP Port\Ports\]
"Protocol"=dword:00000001
"Version"=dword:00000001
"HostName"=""
"IPAddress"=""
"HWAddress"=""
"PortNumber"=dword:0000238c
"SNMP Community"="public"
"SNMP Enabled"=dword:00000001
"SNMP Index"=dword:00000001

 

(i have left the IP address out)

 

the registry is silently imported through the batch file, spooler service is the stopped and restarted to refresh the ports. i then use printui.dll to install the printer. I specified the inf file i used in the add printer wizard and this is where it fails.

 

When i run the batch file it tells me that it is unable to find a suitable driver. this is the only printer i cannot install through this method.

 

Does anyone have any ideas?

[mac_shinobi]

Hi all

 

I have a networked printer in one of my schools and i am trying to automate the installation of it through a batch file.

 

I have to install it through it's IP Address (no print servers unfortunately). This is fine i have got a registry key which creates the port:

 

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Monitors\Standard TCP/IP Port\Ports\]
"Protocol"=dword:00000001
"Version"=dword:00000001
"HostName"=""
"IPAddress"=""
"HWAddress"=""
"PortNumber"=dword:0000238c
"SNMP Community"="public"
"SNMP Enabled"=dword:00000001
"SNMP Index"=dword:00000001

 

(i have left the IP address out)

 

the registry is silently imported through the batch file, spooler service is the stopped and restarted to refresh the ports. i then use printui.dll to install the printer. I specified the inf file i used in the add printer wizard and this is where it fails.

 

When i run the batch file it tells me that it is unable to find a suitable driver. this is the only printer i cannot install through this method.

 

Does anyone have any ideas?

 

You can use the rundll method to install a standard tcp/ip or LPR port as well as using an inf file to install the driver

 

How to add printers with no user interaction in Windows

 

How to add printers with no user interaction in Windows XP

 

Command Line Printer Control

 

On this article

 

RunDLL32

 

There are related articles which may be of interest at the bottom

[LeightonJames]

Thanks for responding, i'm able to install the port fine it's just that rundll32 and the printui.dll are not recognising any inf file from the drivers even though i am using the same files for the add printer wizard.

[mac_shinobi]

Thanks for responding, i'm able to install the port fine it's just that rundll32 and the printui.dll are not recognising any inf file from the drivers even though i am using the same files for the add printer wizard.

 

can you post back with the rundll command you are using and also you mention the printui.dll ( how does that come into it ? )

 

Just as an example from the windows xp rundll command

 

rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /if /b "Test Printer" /f

%windir%\inf\ntprint.inf /r "IP_157.57.50.98" /m "HP Laserjet 4000 Series PCL" /Z

 

The \if command switch should allow you to specify the relevant inf file, I am guessing they will need copying to the windows/inf directory possibly ??

[Arthur]

Assuming you are using the 32-bit PCL6 driver on Windows XP, the batch file below should do what you want. You just need to change the IP address and driver paths in the variables section.

 

@ECHO OFF
:: ===========================================================
:: Installs HP Color LaserJet CP3525n printer
:: Based on batch file from RSCWM: http://goo.gl/JB2J
:: ===========================================================

:: ===========================================================
:: VARIABLES
:: ===========================================================
Set PRNSCRIPTDIR=%SystemRoot%\System32
Set PRINTER=HP Color LaserJet CP3525 PCL 6
Set SHARENAME=HP Colour LaserJet CP3525n
Set IPADDR=192.168.0.254
:: Note double backslashes below
Set DRVFOLDER=C:\\HP_CLJ_CP3525_32bit_PCL6\\
Set DRVINF=C:\\HP_CLJ_CP3525_32bit_PCL6\\hpc3525c.inf
:: ===========================================================

:: Check whether printer exists and is default printer
cscript /nologo %PRNSCRIPTDIR%\prnmngr.vbs -g | FINDSTR /c:"%PRINTER%"
IF %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 0 GOTO :SHAREPRINTER

:: Check whether printer exists, but is not the default printer
cscript /nologo %PRNSCRIPTDIR%\prnmngr.vbs -l | FINDSTR /c:"%PRINTER%"
IF %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 0 GOTO :SETDEFAULT

:: Check whether printer driver is installed
cscript /nologo %PRNSCRIPTDIR%\prndrvr.vbs -l | FINDSTR /c:"%PRINTER%"
:: If it isn't, install driver
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /ia /b "%PRINTER%" /f "%DRVINF%" /r IP_%IPADDR% /m "%PRINTER%"
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 EXIT /B

:: Check whether printer port exists
cscript /nologo %PRNSCRIPTDIR%\prnport.vbs -l | FINDSTR /c:"%IPADDR%
:: If it isn't, create port
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 cscript /nologo %PRNSCRIPTDIR%\prnport.vbs -a -r IP_%IPADDR% -o raw -n 9100 -me -i 1 -y public -h %IPADDR%
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 EXIT /B

:: Create printer
cscript /nologo %PRNSCRIPTDIR%\prnmngr.vbs -a -p "%PRINTER%" -m "%PRINTER%" -r IP_%IPADDR%
IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 EXIT /B

:: Set as default printer
:SETDEFAULT
cscript /nologo %PRNSCRIPTDIR%\prnmngr.vbs -t -p "%PRINTER%"

:: Check if printer is shared. If it isn't, share it.
:SHAREPRINTER
WMIC PRINTER where "PortName='IP_%IPADDR%'" GET Shared | FINDSTR /c:"FALSE"
IF %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 0 cscript /nologo %PRNSCRIPTDIR%\prncnfg.vbs -t -p "%PRINTER%" -h "%SHARENAME%" -m "Comment" -l "Location" +shared -direct

 

 

HPs latest printer drivers are a little strange in that you can't use prndrvr.vbs to install them, you have to to use the rundll32 method with the /ia switch. If you use the /if switch you will receive an error stating "The argument is invalid". This also means you can't use /Z to share the printer so you need to use prncnfg.vbs to do that. If you have any non-HP printers you can replace the line containing rundll32 with the following.

 

IF %ERRORLEVEL% NEQ 0 cscript /nologo %PRNSCRIPTDIR%\prndrvr.vbs -a -m "%PRINTER%" -h "%DRVFOLDER" -i "%DRVINF%"

Edited May 23, 2010 by Arthur
Updated Script

[LeightonJames]

Thanks for the posts.

 

The batch file i am using contains the following commands

 

Echo off
cls
Echo "*******************************************************"
Echo "****************Installing Printer*********************"
Echo "*******************************************************"
Echo.
Echo.
Echo "Creating Printer Port"
regedit /s "\\server\Installation Packages\Printer Installers\IT suite.reg"
Echo.
Echo.
Echo Spooler Service Restarting
net stop spooler
net start spooler
Echo Spooler Service Restarted
Echo.
Echo "Printer Port Created"
Echo.
Echo.
Echo "Installing Drivers"
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /if /b "HP Colour Laserjet 3525n" /f "\\server\Apps\Printer Drivers\HP Colour Laserjet 3525n\hpc3525c.inf" /r "IP_xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx" /m "HP Colour Laserjet 3525n"
Echo.
Echo "Drivers Installed"
Echo.
Echo Printer Installation Complete
Echo.
Echo.
Echo.
Pause

 

I have used that rundll method with other printers before using a batch file. it's just this one that doesn't work.

[Arthur]

I have used that rundll method with other printers before using a batch file. It's just this one that doesn't work.

 

 

This line in your script...

 

rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /if /b "HP Colour Laserjet 3525n" /f "\\Server\Apps\Printer Drivers\HP Colour Laserjet 3525n\hpc3525c.inf" /r "IP_xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx" /m "HP Colour Laserjet 3525n"

 

 

needs to be changed to...

 

rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /[b]ia[/b] /b "[b]HP Color LaserJet CP3525 PCL 6[/b]" /f "\\Server\Apps\Printer Drivers\HP Colour Laserjet 3525n\hpc3525c.inf" /r "IP_xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx" /m "[b]HP Color LaserJet CP3525 PCL 6[/b]"

 

 

If you want to give it a try, I have combined your batch file with parts of mine and come up with the one below (which will work on XP and Vista/7). As long as you are using the PCL6 driver, this will do it.

 

@echo off & cls

Call :GetOS
SET PRINTER=HP Color LaserJet CP3525 PCL 6
SET IPADDR=[b]xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx[/b]

echo *******************************************************
echo **************** Installing Printer *******************
echo *******************************************************
echo.
echo Creating Printer Port
echo.
cscript /nologo %PRNSCRIPTDIR%\prnport.vbs -a -r IP_%IPADDR% -o raw -n 9100 -me -i 1 -y public -h %IPADDR%
echo.
echo Printer Port Created

echo.
echo Installing Drivers
echo.
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /ia /b "%PRINTER%" /f "\\Server\Apps\Printer Drivers\HP Colour Laserjet 3525n\hpc3525c.inf" /r IP_%IPADDR% /m "%PRINTER%"

echo.
echo Drivers Installed
echo.
echo Printer Installation Complete
echo.
PAUSE
goto :EOF


:: *******************************************************
:: **************** Check Windows Version ****************
:: *******************************************************
:GetOS
ver | findstr /i "5\.0\." > nul
IF %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 0 goto 2000
ver | findstr /i "5\.1\." > nul
IF %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 0 goto XP
ver | findstr /i "5\.2\." > nul
IF %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 0 goto 2003
ver | findstr /i "6\.0\." > nul
IF %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 0 goto Vista
ver | findstr /i "6\.1\." > nul
IF %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 0 goto 7
goto UnknownOS

:7
SET PRNSCRIPTDIR=%SystemRoot%\System32\Printing_Admin_Scripts\en-US
goto :EOF

:Vista
SET PRNSCRIPTDIR=%SystemRoot%\System32\Printing_Admin_Scripts\en-US
goto :EOF

:2003
SET PRNSCRIPTDIR=%SystemRoot%\System32
goto :EOF

:XP
SET PRNSCRIPTDIR=%SystemRoot%\System32
goto :EOF

:2000
echo Windows 2000 is not supported
goto :EOF

:UnknownOS
echo Operating system cannot be determined.
goto :EOF

Edited May 24, 2010 by Arthur

[mac_shinobi]

Not sure if it makes any difference with bat files but when using vbscript I have had to be specific as to where the rundll32 exe was when launching it ie

 

c:\windows\system32\rundll32.exe printui.dll,PrintUIEntry etc etc etc

[Arthur]

I can't say I have ever had to specify the path to rundll32. It has always worked for me. e.g.

 

Option Explicit

Dim WshShell,Printer,Port,Driver,Return

Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

Printer = "HP Color LaserJet CP3525 PCL 6"
Port    = "IP_192.168.0.254"
Driver  = "C:\HP_CLJ_CP3525_32bit_PCL6\hpc3525c.inf"

Return = WshShell.Run("rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /ia /b """ & Printer & """ /f """ & Driver & """ /r """ & Port & """ /m """ & Printer & chr(34))

[mac_shinobi]

I can't say I have ever had to specify the path to rundll32. It has always worked for me. e.g.

 

Option Explicit

Dim WshShell,Printer,Port,Driver,Return

Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

Printer = "HP Color LaserJet CP3525 PCL 6"
Port    = "IP_192.168.0.254"
Driver  = "C:\HP_CLJ_CP3525_32bit_PCL6\hpc3525c.inf"

Return = WshShell.Run("rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /ia /b """ & Printer & """ /f """ & Driver & """ /r """ & Port & """ /m """ & Printer & chr(34))

 

Because the Printer Name has to be the same as the name in the inf file is there anyway to read the inf file using fso or the likes so as long as the hta is in the same directory it can find and read the inf file to determine the printer name

 

which section of the inf file as well because looking at the pcl 5 driver oemsetup.inf file there are a few mentions of it being a ricoh aficio mpc 3000 pcl 5 etc

 

Also found this, not sure if its of any use

 

http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/ezine/ezine118.htm

Edited May 25, 2010 by mac_shinobi

[Arthur]

Because the Printer Name has to be the same as the name in the inf file is there anyway to read the inf file using fso or the likes so as long as the hta is in the same directory it can find and read the inf file to determine the printer name

There probably is a way to do this, but I'm not quite sure how to do it (maybe srochford knows ). Some printer drivers list more than one printer model in their INFs which complicates things even further.

[mac_shinobi]

There probably is a way to do this, but I'm not quite sure how to do it (maybe srochford knows ). Some printer drivers list more than one printer model in their INFs which complicates things even further.

 

That was or is the issue I am having and am getting confused , as an example downloaded and extracted the pcl 5 driver for windows xp 32 bit for an MPC 3000 and it even refers to MPC 2000 and MPC 2500 as well as the MPC 3000

 

Would using wmi work ok on windows 7 / vista / xp ??

 

http://www.activexperts.com/activmonitor/windowsmanagement/adminscripts/printing/ports/

 

If so I can add the port and driver using wmi

 

Then it would be a case of using the ms kb to add the printer using the already pre created tcp/ip port with an already installed driver etc

Edited May 25, 2010 by mac_shinobi

[Arthur]

Would using wmi work ok on windows 7 / vista / xp ??

You shouldn't have any problems on those OSs. In fact, it's what prndrvr.vbs and all the other VBScripts use.

Edited May 25, 2010 by Arthur
Just saw your other thread. :-)

[LeightonJames]

Arthur

 

Thanks for your script it works to a point unfortuantely though. It creates the port with no problems it even installs the driver!! but it won't actually create the printer in my Printers and Faxes folder. any ideas why??

 

Thanks again

 

EDIT - NVM figured it out - changed the /ia to /if as /ia only installs the drivers not the printer.

 

Thanks for all your help.

Edited May 28, 2010 by LeightonJames
Found solution

[Arthur]

Hi Leighton,

 

Thanks for the update. I forgot to add the line that actually creates the printer (after the rundll32 line).

 

echo.
echo Creating printer
echo.
cscript /nologo %PRNSCRIPTDIR%\prnmngr.vbs -a -p "%PRINTER%" -m "%PRINTER%" -r IP_%IPADDR%

 

 

The script should therefore look like this now (assuming you were using the one in post #7).

 

@echo off & cls

Call :GetOS
SET PRINTER=HP Color LaserJet CP3525 PCL 6
SET IPADDR=xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx

echo *******************************************************
echo **************** Installing Printer *******************
echo *******************************************************
echo.
echo Creating Printer Port
echo.
cscript /nologo %PRNSCRIPTDIR%\prnport.vbs -a -r IP_%IPADDR% -o raw -n 9100 -me -i 1 -y public -h %IPADDR%
echo.
echo Printer Port Created

echo.
echo Installing Drivers
echo.
rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /ia /b "%PRINTER%" /f "\\Server\Apps\Printer Drivers\HP Colour Laserjet 3525n\hpc3525c.inf" /r IP_%IPADDR% /m "%PRINTER%"

echo.
echo Creating printer
echo.
cscript /nologo %PRNSCRIPTDIR%\prnmngr.vbs -a -p "%PRINTER%" -m "%PRINTER%" -r IP_%IPADDR%

echo.
echo Drivers Installed
echo.
echo Printer Installation Complete
echo.
PAUSE
goto :EOF


:: *******************************************************
:: **************** Check Windows Version ****************
:: *******************************************************
:GetOS
ver | findstr /i "5\.0\." > nul
IF %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 0 goto 2000
ver | findstr /i "5\.1\." > nul
IF %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 0 goto XP
ver | findstr /i "5\.2\." > nul
IF %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 0 goto 2003
ver | findstr /i "6\.0\." > nul
IF %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 0 goto Vista
ver | findstr /i "6\.1\." > nul
IF %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 0 goto 7
goto UnknownOS

:7
SET PRNSCRIPTDIR=%SystemRoot%\System32\Printing_Admin_Scripts\en-US
goto :EOF

:Vista
SET PRNSCRIPTDIR=%SystemRoot%\System32\Printing_Admin_Scripts\en-US
goto :EOF

:2003
SET PRNSCRIPTDIR=%SystemRoot%\System32
goto :EOF

:XP
SET PRNSCRIPTDIR=%SystemRoot%\System32
goto :EOF

:2000
echo Windows 2000 is not supported
goto :EOF

:UnknownOS
echo Operating system cannot be determined.
goto :EOF

 

 

Edit. Glad you go it working.

Edited May 28, 2010 by Arthur

[LeightonJames]

If anyone is interseted i have created a small application which can be used as a front end launcher for the batch files. It uses the following folder structure:

 

Root

. Printer Installer.exe

+ Scripts

Batch files go in the scripts folder and the appliction reads the contents of that folder.

 

Thanks for everyon'es help with this.