Removing old network printers

[bkesting]

Hello, I just replaced an old Windows 2000 server with a new Windows 2003 server. I have reinstalled the old printers onto the new server. My problem is, that I have client PC's that still have old network printers installed, and I cannot delete them from the Printers folder. Anyone know how I can do this?

Thanks.

 

[bofhrevenge2]

Get this CON2PRT.EXE from MS then use a batch file at logon with this line in it.

\\SERVER\Share\CON2PRT /F

When the user logs on it will dump all printers. Test this first of course but i've used it a few times with success.

It's part of the NT4 zero admin kit but it still works fine on XP/2003.

http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation/downloads/Recommended/Featured/NTZAK.asp

 

[bofhrevenge2]

Typing Con2Prt /h returns:

CON2PRT: Lets the user disconnect all existing connections to Windows NT printers and connect to newly specified Windows NT printers.

Usage: CON2PRT [ /? | /h | /f | [/c \\printserver\share | /cd \\printserver\share]+]
where:

/? - displays usage.
/h - displays usage.
/f - deletes all existing printer connections.
/c - connects to \\printserver\share printer.
/cd - connects to \\printserver\share printer and sets it as the default printer.

 

[martyh]

You could use this vb script to remove a printer connection from a PC

Set objNetwork = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Network")
objNetwork.RemovePrinterConnection "\\PrintServer\xerox3006"

Just edit the \\printserver\printername and put the vb script in the login script for a while.



Marty
Network Admin
Hilliard Schools

 

[bkesting]

I will try all of these suggestions.....thanks guys!

 

[bofhrevenge2]

Also if you go down the line of VBS scripts as martyh suggests and require help adding the new printers after then take a look at these links.

thread94-910564

http://www.computerperformance.co.uk/Logon/LogonScript_Printer.htm

 

[bkesting]

Well, so far nothing has worked.

When I run the con2prt tool, it removes my new printers, but the printer off of the old server, when it gets to it, i get an error message that says

"Failed to remove connection to printer: \\server\sharename.
System error code: 3e5"

When I use the vbscript, I get this:

Script: C:\print.vbs
Line: 2
Char: 1
Error: This network connection does not exist.

Code: 800708CA
Source: WSHNetwork.RemoveNetworkDrive

Any thoughts?

 

[bofhrevenge2]

You only need to run the con2pt tool once to dump all printers then remove it from the logon script.
I use it on my network to dump printers at every logoff and then add the appropiate printer at logon via a VB script. This is due to my users roaming between rooms.

What client OS are you using?
How was the old printer added in the first place?

 

[bkesting]

I have only run the con2prt tool once. It will not remove the printers that were part of the old server. No problem removing printers that are already on the new server. My clients are all WinXP Pro w/ SP2 and the server is Windows 2003. Old server was Windows 2000.

The old printer was installed on the old server via a TCP/IP port and all clients then installed that printer from the server onto their desktops.

 

[martyh]

Try this link

http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/prnport.mspx

Marty
Network Admin
Hilliard Schools

 

[bofhrevenge2]

If martyh's suggestion doesn't work then using this script will set the new printer to default so your users will be printing to the correct printer untill you get this sorted.


Network.AddWindowsPrinterConnection "\\server\printer" Network.SetDefaultPrinter "\\server\printer"

 

[bkesting]

I ended up renaming the new printer with the same name the old printer had, this allowed me to get rid of the rogue printer.