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Default Printer Settings Do Not Stick

Hi Experts,

I have tried several different things to fix this issue of which I will describe below.  For some background though, this is a company of about 15-20 users, all with domain joined computers.  The printers are shared out from the DC using GP.  Also each user has their own roaming profile and redirected folders.  When one user changes their default printer, when she logs off and logs back on it is changed.  Even on different computers, but it is always the last printer in the list of printers no matter what, even if one computer has different printers in the list.  This does not affect different users on her workstation, or anyone else in the office, this is totally isolated.  


First I tried changing:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows

Device: REG_SZ :
\\BFI-Server\Sales Printer 03,winspool,NE06:

UserSelectedDefault: REG_DWORD:
1

Reference

These setting will not stay after log off.  Once you log back in, the device is different and "UserSelectedDefault" goes back to "0".


Second:
I tried to create a new Profile.  I found her user and backed up here "Profile" folder in the USV folder, then moved it out of the folder.  Logged back in as her and had it rebuild.  I proceeded to log off and let the profile sync.  After that I tried to set the default printer, but once I logged off and logged back in again, it went back to the last printer in the list.  


Third:
I went here.  I then tried Method 1.

Export the default printer setting for an already-installed printer, and then merge the setting into the user's profile when the user logs on to the computer:
Use Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) to export the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
Modify the registry (.reg) file you made in step 1 with a text editor so that the only registry value name below the key is:
"Device"=...
Note that the registry file should contain a blank line at the bottom of the file.
Use Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) to add a new ResetPrinter string value under the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
The value of the ResetPrinter value should be something similar to the following value
REGEDIT.EXE -S path\File.reg
where File.reg is the name you used to store the default printer.


I have been at this for a few days now, please if you have any suggestions let me know!
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of RobSampson
RobSampson
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SkinnerTech

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This fix worked perfectly!  Thank you so much, you saved me many more hours of hair pulling frustration.
No problem. It was hours of frustration for me when we migrated to Windows 7 from Windows XP using USMT.  Some of the printer settings seemed to get corrupt when we transferred the user profiles.  I eventually found this way of fixing it.

Thanks for the grade.

Regards,

Rob.