Multiple Lasejets via USB on laptop 1

[wcburton]

I am in need of deploying several laptops (75) using a disk image. We have an area where laptop users will come to print on standalone HP Laserjets (model 2200 for now). I am trying to set up the image with the printers installed since the users will not have rights to install local printers.

The first one installs fine and sets up a virtual port, DOT4_001. I found that if you unplug the first printer and try to connect to a different Laserjet (same USB connector on the laptop), it wants to install a new printer. It sets up a new virtual port (DOT4_002) but cannot complete the printer install. I could live with the multiple virtual ports and just set up printer pooling, but since the install did not finish, it keeps wanting to do a new install and keeps building additional virtual ports.

Eventually we will have network connections and network printing available for these but I foresee this being a problem at some remote sites where they need to print also.

We are running XP Pro on these laptops (Itronix GoBook II). There is no infrared or parallel port so I need to use the USB. I would not mind giving users rights to install local printers but last time I checked, you had to be an administrator to install a local printer.

Please help.
-Bill

 

[bcastner]

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;297780&Product=winxp

 

[wcburton]

Well, Bill - you answered one thing that had been bugging me about printer installs. For the current project, I did not really want to make the general user a "Power User". I would prefer to keep them "limited user" to limit install of software. Maybe I can give them a locked down Power User account just to install printers.

I don't suppose you came up with any ideas about the new hardware found for each printer?

 

[bcastner]

Read all of: thread779-581142

This thread is based on:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314486

By using a .bat or .cmd file to define in one fell swoop all the permutations using the notes above, a new printer definition can likely be avoided.

There are some peculiarities about USB connections that you have seen. Often using a second USB port (if available) can also prompt for a printer installation even though a definition exists on USB Port 1; amd as you have noticed, a change in the printer may force a driver reinstall as well.

One final point to consider: drop the DOT4 definition.
If the printer port definition is only USB and not DOT4 the issue may disappear.

Best,
Bill Castner

 

[bcastner]

Oh, to use my last suggestion, let it install as DOT4. Then use the Properties sheet of the installed printer to change its port to USB.

 

[wcburton]

That's what I needed!