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Q196732: HOWTO: Set a User’s Default Local Printer with a Logon Script

Article: Q196732
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 11-JUN-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition 
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IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SUMMARY
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When a user connects to a Terminal Server computer in a client session, he or
she may be locked down to only one application. If this application does not
allow for selecting the default printer, the user will not be able to specify a
printer other than the default. To make it possible for all users to specify the
printer closest to them, the default printer must be set using a regini script.

NOTE: Regini.exe is available in the Windows NT Resource Kit.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems
that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot
guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor
incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

1. In Terminal Server, run Regedt32 and go to the following key:

  HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/WindowsNT/Currentversion/Devices

  Here you will see a list of your existing printers. An example of one of the
  key values may look like this:

  HP LaserJet 5Si : REG_SZ: winspool,Ne00

  NOTE: This is a local printer, NOT a network printer.

  The first text string is the text name of the printer, and the last two
  numbers in Ne00 will be the order in which the printer was added to the
  server for a TCP/IP printer. It could be, for example, LPT1: for a direct
  connected printer. Take note of all the printers listed here. These printer
  would have had to been installed by a local administrator.

2. Create a text file and name it SomeFileName.ini. One of theses files will be
  needed for each printer you need to assign as default. The file should look
  like this:

  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
     Device = DELETE

  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Printers
     DeviceOld = DELETE

  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
     Device = "[text name of printer],winspool,Nexx:"

  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Printers
     DeviceOld = "[text name of printer],winspool,Nexx:"

  NOTE: Do not forget the colon (:).

  NOTE: xx is the Ne number for the specific printer you would like to use with
  this file.

  NOTE: Device = "[text name of printer],winspool,Nexx:" is case sensitive.

3. After all your files have been created for each printer, you must add the
  following line to the logon script of each user:

  regini [path]\SomeFileName.ini > Nul:

MORE INFORMATION
================

By default, only printers that are attached to a local port on the server will
be pushed to all users logging on to the Terminal Server computer. This includes
printers connected through TCP/IP printing.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbNTTermServ400 kbNTTermServSearch
Version           : winnt:4.0
Issue type        : kbinfo

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