asked on 8/31/2018

Win32_Printer Put() Throwing a "Generic Failure" Error

We've been trying to deploy a TCP/IP printer to a non-AD-joined machine using PowerShell.

The function we're using is:

Function CreatePrinter {
    $wmi = ([WMIClass]"\\$ComputerName\Root\cimv2:Win32_Printer")
    $Printer = $wmi.CreateInstance()
    $Printer.CreationClassName = "Win32_Printer"
    $Printer.Caption = $PrinterCaption
    $Printer.DriverName = $DriverName
    $Printer.PortName = $PrinterPortName
    $Printer.DeviceID = $PrinterCaption
    $Printer.Put()
}

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However, when running Put(), we receive the following error:

Exception calling "Put" with "0" argument(s): "Generic failure "

We've made sure the driver is pointing correctly, the driver is installed, and all of the required parameters are filled in. Interestingly, this works on a local Windows 10 machine using a different printer, but when trying on a different Windows 7 machine using a different printer, it fails.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

Powershell Printers and Scanners Windows 10 Windows OS * Drivers

Last Comment

McKnife

9/26/2018

Cliff Galiher

8/31/2018

If your goal is to use powershell, why aren't you using the add-printer cmdlet? WMI via powershell can be clunky and you really have to dig into MSDN to get the API right.

McKnife

8/31/2018

And then there's native GPO printer deployment which works stable and is very convenient... why use powershell?

Karl Malone

9/4/2018

ASKER

Cliff Galiher, the Add-Printer cmdlet doesn't exist in Windows 7. The goal of the script is to be flexible and executable on any non-AD machine, 7 or 10, that we need to deploy printers on, which is why we've resorted to trying to use WMI.

McKnife, as stated in the original post, the machine is not joined to Active Directory.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Cliff Galiher

9/4/2018

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McKnife

9/4/2018

Sorry, for missing that detail.

An idea: your deployment, is it to several machines? Why not do it from remote?
https://powershell.org/forums/topic/powershell-v3-on-win7/ shows, how someone uses an OS (there: win8.1) that has the add-printer cmdlet to install a printer on server 2008 R2 from remote - I guess it will work the same way against a remote Win7.

McKnife

9/26/2018

Just for me: was my suggestion tried? It looked very promising and easy at the same time.

Win32_Printer Put() Throwing a &quot;Generic Failure&quot; Error

Win32_Printer Put() Throwing a "Generic Failure" Error