Local printer management in enterprise domain
My question is if there's a good way to manage local USB printers in a domain where users don't have local admin rights?
It seems as though staging the drivers with pnputil.exe is of no use since windows don't recognize the printer on connection (HP Laserjet Professional P1102).
The add printer wizard is of no use since it's a USB printer and there are no local USB ports.
Using printui.dll to install the driver make no difference. The printer is not found by windows when you connect it.
Since there are no USB ports you can't install the printer with printui.dll, just the drivers, which don't help.
There seems to be no silent install switch for the HP driver install program.
So, is this just the way it is or am I missing something?
Answers (1)
Typically USB printers require specific local software installations rather than just a driver install. Because they are consumer level, they rarely have remote install options.
I would have to say this is probably just the way it is. Typically USB printers require specific local software installations rather than just a driver install. Because they are consumer level, they rarely have remote install options.
There are many reasons why you may not be able to consolidate printers, but be aware that ditching a myriad of local printers for a few enterprise class printers usually ends in a cost-savings through a reduction in supply and maintenance costs. If security is an issue, such as HR documents on a shared printer, many have the ability to require a pin to retrieve printouts.
