How do I install a network printer on all workstations for all users from Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition?

Question

I have a handful of workstations with users that log on to any of them with their account. I need to install a printer for all the users to use on any machine. The printer is already on the network and I can add the printer per user manually, but I need to do this from the server as there are many users and it'd be impossible to do it any other way.

Solution 1

I solved it this way, yes it wasn't quite the best solution but it sure saved me the time of figuring out how to use group policy. I followed the directions on this page: http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/NetPrinterAllUsers.htm with the exception of I had to log into each workstation as the administrator and install the printer manually for the script to run. Otherwise I would get an error stating: "Unable to add the per machine printer connection. The print spooler service is not running." Even though the spooler was running on both the workstations and the server. After I logged in and installed the printer manually, the script would run and every user that logs into the machine gets the printer added to their profile.

Solution 2

Do you have an AD domain? If so you can add a Domain Printer through group policy, and set it up on each machine with a logon script (also configured through group policy).
This tutorial (Specifically: Part 2 of it) should get you started. Windows Help should fill in the blanks from there.

Solution 3

Your best best it to use a GPO to push out the Printer through logon script:

http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/Deploying-Printers-Group-Policy-Windows-R2.html

^^ voretaq7 beat me to it.

Comments

[mfinni]

Just a heads-up. Time spent learning Group Policy is time well-spent. You should really learn to use the tools that come with the system. They will serve you well.

[David Mackey]

I read this article and the second part of it and don't see how this relates to Demi's question directly. It addresses configuring printer policies, but not deploying printers to machines.

[voretaq7]

@DavidMackey There used to be a link to Part 2 from that page which is where the magic bits are -- basically you need to do some hackery with a logon script to make sure the printers are added for the user (otherwise they have to browse/search the directory for the printer & add it manually - bleh). (Also see Cheekaleak's answer which links to another article on the same site).