Problem pushing printers to XP Machines

[globalbrain]

Hi everyone. I looked through the forum but can’t find exactly what I’m looking for, so apologies if double posting.

I’ve got Server 2008R2 and a bunch of XP machines. I’ve got several computer rooms and there is a printer in each room and it needs to print only from computers in that room no matter who is logged in. I have installed Client Side Extensions on XP machines, in Active Directory I have created a new OU called Room1 and added computers (that are located in Room 1), and I have created a new blank Group Policy for Room1 (called PrinterRoom1). On the server (2008, it’s printserver) I have added a printer (located in Room 1) and installed XP drivers, then I deployed this printer with Group Policy pointed to the PrinterRoom1 policy and deployed as “per machine”. Then I opened PrinterRoom1 group policy navigated to Computer Configuration-Policies-Windows Settings-Scripts-Startup and added the following line: \\myserver\netlogon\pushprinterconnections.exe (this is where pushprinterconnections.exe is located). Closed it all and run “gpupdate /force” on the server and workstations. But nothing happened, there is no printer installed. If I navigate to the print server the printer is there and I can print the test page from Properties.

Where do I go wrong? Any help is very welcomed! Thanks.

[carvjo]

OK - this is what I've done and it seems to work..

 

in GMPC - User Configuration - Preferences - Control Panel Settings - Printers

 

Right Click - New Shared Printer

 

On the General Tab I have

 

Action: Update

 

Shared Path: \\print-server-name\printer-share-name

 

On the Common Tab

 

Item Level Targeting is Ticked - then click the Targeting button and select the OU..

 

I did a GP update on an XP machine in that OU and - the printer was attached..

 

Hope that helps..

[globalbrain]

Thank you for reply. I was under impression that GMPC - User Configuration - Preferences are only working for Vista/7 machines, I have tried few settings there (Drive Maps, Internet Settings) and nothing gets through to XP machines only Windows 7. But I have tried your suggestion (with different settings) and it didn't work. Thanks anyway.

[carvjo]

Strangely - our XP machines pick up the GPPs reliably - but the Windows 7 don't always.. GPO's are a black art and I may need to sacrifice a farmyard animal!

[carvjo]

I know you said you had them - but check you have the right KB

 

Group Policy Preference Client Side Extensions for Windows XP (KB943729)

 

With that installed it should work..

[globalbrain]

Yes, it is the same KB.

I keep testing different settings and assigning the printer the way you mentioned but not to the Computer OU Group Policy but to the User OU GP and it is working fine. The printer is installed and working, but I've got about 25 different printers and pushing them to all users is madness.

 

I'll keep trying. Thank you.

[globalbrain]

Problem solved!

The pushprinterconnections.exe that I pulled from the server Windows\System32 is 64 bit and would not run on XP (as it's 32 bit). So after search on google I've found 32 bit and all is working fine! Thank you.