Server 2003 Print Server & Vista

stoofa · 24 Jul 2007 at 18:20

I think I know the answer to this one - well so says my research, but maybe/hope I've missed something.

We have a machines which amongst other things is the central print server.
All printers are setup on this machine and then shared.
End result is that any Windows box running Win98 onwards can simply browse to this machine, pick a printer.
With a simple double-click the driver is automatically installed from this print server and all is well.
Of course this print server doesn't hold any drivers for either Vista32 or Vista64.
As far as I can tell there is no way around this and I would have to wait for Server 2008 before any Vista users would be able to install one of the shared printers via a simple double-click?

Of is there a way of getting a Server 2003 box to distribute Vista drivers as well?

Ta

brendy · 24 Jul 2007 at 23:20

stoofa said:
I think I know the answer to this one - well so says my research, but maybe/hope I've missed something.

We have a machines which amongst other things is the central print server.
All printers are setup on this machine and then shared.
End result is that any Windows box running Win98 onwards can simply browse to this machine, pick a printer.
With a simple double-click the driver is automatically installed from this print server and all is well.
Of course this print server doesn't hold any drivers for either Vista32 or Vista64.
As far as I can tell there is no way around this and I would have to wait for Server 2008 before any Vista users would be able to install one of the shared printers via a simple double-click?

Of is there a way of getting a Server 2003 box to distribute Vista drivers as well?

Ta

What make/model of printer is it? perhaps other models from the same manufacturer may work, much in the same way later laserjets still work with laserjet4 basic drivers etc?

Snapshot · 25 Jul 2007 at 05:40

I know this can be done as I had an NT4 server distributing XP drivers for an LJ4650. Unfortunately I can't quite remember what I did and I can't access the server as it's switched off and 90 miles away. I have a strong feeling I just copied the drivers to a folder on the server, keeping to the same folder structure as the existing drivers. I'd have a look under windows\system32\spool\drivers to see what's there.

TheKnat · 25 Jul 2007 at 07:01

Can't be 100% sure because I'm not sat in front of my server btu I thought there was an option unders the drivers section of the printer to install additional drivers ?

In fact just looking at my local printer, I'm pretty sure you can just on the server you just under the advanced tab of printer properties you click 'new driver' and then select the Vista driver.

Fr0dders · 25 Jul 2007 at 11:49

Right click on the printer properties in Server 2003

Sharing

under the options to share the printer you should have the option to install additonal drivers ?

should look like this

oddjob62 · 25 Jul 2007 at 13:32

MrLOL said:
Right click on the printer properties in Server 2003

Sharing

under the options to share the printer you should have the option to install additonal drivers ?

should look like this

You're has the option to install Vista drivers? How did you add that option?

Fr0dders · 25 Jul 2007 at 15:09

oddjob62 said:
You're has the option to install Vista drivers? How did you add that option?

very good point.

carry on !

stoofa · 25 Jul 2007 at 16:37

Yer - that's the problem I'm seeing.
No option to add Vista drivers.
Obviously the server OS has no idea what Vista is.
Ideally we want any machine no matter what Windows OS it is running to be able to simply browse to the Print Server and double-click the printer of their choice and instal it.

Under Vista32 & Vista64 at the moment it immediately tells you the Print Server doesn't have the required drivers.
I can then manually point to them, but a lot of hassle.

We're talking about:

HP LaserJet 4600
HP LaserJet 4650
HP LaserJet 5500

Fr0dders · 25 Jul 2007 at 21:02

stoofa said:
Yer - that's the problem I'm seeing.
No option to add Vista drivers.
Obviously the server OS has no idea what Vista is.
Ideally we want any machine no matter what Windows OS it is running to be able to simply browse to the Print Server and double-click the printer of their choice and instal it.

Under Vista32 & Vista64 at the moment it immediately tells you the Print Server doesn't have the required drivers.
I can then manually point to them, but a lot of hassle.

We're talking about:

HP LaserJet 4600
HP LaserJet 4650
HP LaserJet 5500

I c your problem

sadly i think its just not possible yet.

ns400r · 25 Jul 2007 at 22:19

'Point and Print'

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/techinfo/overview/pointandprint.mspx