Printer Deployment GPO Problem

[Darylrese]

Morning,

 

We are having a few problems with Printer GPO's in our ICT Rooms. The printer shows in the list on the machines but it says its unavailable even though others can print to it.

 

We create a blank GPO for the printer, link it in the OU then deploy using group policy on the print server using the print management console. We tick the deploy by computer check box and add the machines that need the GPO to the security tab.

 

Some PC's are working ok and others are saying unavailable or not showing atall. Any ideas why this might happen? They are identical PC's hardware and software wise all been built from the same image!

 

Many thanks

[ricki]

Hi

 

We normally get this if the client computer cannot access the print server when the computer boots as it cannot load the driver.

 

Or if the printer is plugged into a computer instead of a network printer or a printer connected to a print server. windows 7 and xp can only have up to 10 connections.

 

Richard

[Darylrese]

I just checked the GPO and its set at the top folder in our OU for all PC's to apply point and print access, however no machines were specified. I have added the student pcs to the security tab and will see how that goes? Edited February 7, 2013 by Darylrese

[Darylrese]

 

Or if the printer is plugged into a computer instead of a network printer or a printer connected to a print server. windows 7 and xp can only have up to 10 connections.

 

Richard

 

Can you expand on the '10 connections' for me? Does this mean 10 connections from workstations to a print server?

[Gaz]

What OS are the computers? are you using PushPrinterConnections.exe?

 

For me it was just a case of right clicking the printer I wanted to share in "Print Management" and selecting "deploy with group policy..." then selecting the GPO I wanted it to apply to, in this case it was a classroom.

[Darylrese]

Windows 7 Enterprise 64bit

 

Yes thats exactly how we have done it but its not been successful on all machines.

 

Not sure if using PushPrinterConnections.exe?

[Gaz]

Unlikely you need to use it then. I needed to use it for a 2003 server with Win7 and XP clients. I did also need to use it on my 2008r2 server for my Win XP clients, the Win7 clients were ok on that network.

Perhaps there is something of use in this thread.

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/windows-server-2000-2003/101406-deploy-printer-via-gp.html

 

Event logs can be helpful too.