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Set Default Printer for local Printers

Hello,

I have two printers mapped on my Windows 7 machines, "B&W" and "Color". I want the B&W one to be the default for everyone who logs on. Is there a way to script this or use a GPO to force the default? The printers are Pharos printers and not mapped via GPO, they're installed locally on each machine.

Thoughts?

Thanks

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Ciprian Lozonschi

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Sam Simon Nasser

check the article here http://support.microsoft.com/kb/252388
To add a default printer for all new users:

Log on with the Administrator account and install the appropriate default printer.

Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).

Locate the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\Devices
Note the information for the value of the key that represents the default printer that you created in step 1. For example, "Generic / Text Only : REG_SZ : winspool,LPT1:" is the printer named "Generic / Text Only" that is installed as a local printer using printer port LPT1. Network printers are listed as \\servername\sharename with a REG_SZ value similar to "winspool,Ne00:".

On the Window menu, click HKEY_USERS.

On the Registry menu, click Load Hive.

In the %SystemRoot%\Profiles\Default User folder, click the Ntuser.dat file, and then click Open.

In the Key Name box, type ntuser, and then click OK.

Open the following key:
NTUSER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\Devices

On the Edit menu, click Add Value. Create the same value you noted earlier. For example, if you are using the sample printer mentioned earlier, "Generic / Text Only" is the value name, "REG_SZ" is the data type, and "winspool,LPT1:" is the string.

Locate the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\PrinterPorts

Note the information for the value of the key that represents the default printer that you created in step 1. For example, "Generic / Text Only : REG_SZ : winspool,LPT1:,15,45".

Locate the following key:
HKEY_USERS\NTUSER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\PrinterPorts

On the Edit menu, click Add Value. Create the same value you noted in the previous step. For example, if you are using the sample printer mentioned earlier, "Generic / Text Only" is the value name, "REG_SZ" is the data type, and "winspool,LPT1:,15,45" is the string.

Locate the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\Windows

Note the information for the Device value. For example, "Generic / Text Only,winspool,LPT1:".

Double-click the Device value in the following key:
HKEY_USERS\NTUSER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\Windows

Edit the Device value to reflect the information you noted in the previous step. For the sample printer, use "Generic / Text Only,winspool,LPT1:" for the string.

Locate the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Printers

Make a note of all the values contained in this key and any subkeys. You may want to use the Save Key command on the Registry menu.

Select the following key:
HKEY_USERS\NTUSER

On the Edit menu, click Add Key. Type Printers for the new key name.

Click the following key:
HKEY_USERS\NTUSER\Printers

Add all the values that you noted in the step 19. You may want to restore the key that you previously saved. To do this, click the key, and then click Restore Key on the Registry menu.

In the HKEY_USERS window, click the NTUSER key.

On the Registry menu, click Unload Hive.

Quit Registry Editor.

Jason Watkins

ASKER

I'll give these a try and report back. Thanks!

Jason Watkins

ASKER

This script worked great! Thanks!