Override print driver execution compatibility setting reported by print driver
This policy setting determines whether the print spooler will override the Driver Isolation compatibility reported by the print driver. This enables executing print drivers in an isolated process even if the driver does not report compatibility. If you enable this policy setting the print spooler isolates all print drivers that do not explicitly opt out of Driver Isolation. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting the print spooler uses the Driver Isolation compatibility flag value reported by the print driver. Notes:-Other system or driver policy settings may alter the process in which a print driver is executed. -This policy setting applies only to print drivers loaded by the print spooler. Print drivers loaded by applications are not affected. -This policy setting takes effect without restarting the print spooler service.
Execute print drivers in isolated processes
This policy setting determines whether the print spooler will execute print drivers in an isolated or separate process. When print drivers are loaded in an isolated process (or isolated processes) a print driver failure will not cause the print spooler service to fail. If you enable or do not configure this policy setting the print spooler will execute print drivers in an isolated process by default. If you disable this policy setting the print spooler will execute print drivers in the print spooler process. Notes:-Other system or driver policy settings may alter the process in which a print driver is executed. -This policy setting applies only to print drivers loaded by the print spooler. Print drivers loaded by applications are not affected. -This policy setting takes effect without restarting the print spooler service.
Printer browsing
Announces the presence of shared printers to print browse master servers for the domain. On domains with Active Directory shared printer resources are available in Active Directory and are not announced. If you enable this setting the print spooler announces shared printers to the print browse master servers. If you disable this setting shared printers are not announced to print browse master servers even if Active Directory is not available. If you do not configure this setting shared printers are announced to browse master servers only when Active Directory is not available. Note: A client license is used each time a client computer announces a printer to a print browse master on the domain.
Default Active Directory path when searching for printers
Specifies the Active Directory location where searches for printers begin. The Add Printer Wizard gives users the option of searching Active Directory for a shared printer. If you enable this policy setting these searches begin at the location you specify in the “Default Active Directory path” box. Otherwise searches begin at the root of Active Directory. This setting only provides a starting point for Active Directory searches for printers. It does not restrict user searches through Active Directory.
Point and Print Restrictions
This policy setting controls the client Point and Print behavior including the security prompts for Windows Vista computers. The policy setting applies only to non-Print Administrator clients and only to computers that are members of a domain. If you enable this policy setting: -Windows XP and later clients will only download print driver components from a list of explicitly named servers. If a compatible print driver is available on the client a printer connection will be made. If a compatible print driver is not available on the client no connection will be made. -You can configure Windows Vista clients so that security warnings and elevated command prompts do not appear when users Point and Print or when printer connection drivers need to be updated. If you do not configure this policy setting: -Windows Vista client computers can point and print to any server. -Windows Vista computers will show a warning and an elevated command prompt when users create a printer connection to any server using Point and Print. -Windows Vista computers will show a warning and an elevated command prompt when an existing printer connection driver needs to be updated. -Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP client computers can create a printer connection to any server in their forest using Point and Print. If you disable this policy setting: -Windows Vista client computers can create a printer connection to any server using Point and Print. -Windows Vista computers will not show a warning or an elevated command prompt when users create a printer connection to any server using Point and Print. -Windows Vista computers will not show a warning or an elevated command prompt when an existing printer connection driver needs to be updated. -Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP client computers can create a printer connection to any server using Point and Print. -The “Users can only point and print to computers in their forest” setting applies only to Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP SP1 (and later service packs).
Point and Print Restrictions
This policy setting controls the client Point and Print behavior including the security prompts for Windows Vista computers. The policy setting applies only to non-Print Administrator clients and only to computers that are members of a domain. If you enable this policy setting: -Windows XP and later clients will only download print driver components from a list of explicitly named servers. If a compatible print driver is available on the client a printer connection will be made. If a compatible print driver is not available on the client no connection will be made. -You can configure Windows Vista clients so that security warnings and elevated command prompts do not appear when users Point and Print or when printer connection drivers need to be updated. If you do not configure this policy setting: -Windows Vista client computers can point and print to any server. -Windows Vista computers will show a warning and an elevated command prompt when users create a printer connection to any server using Point and Print. -Windows Vista computers will show a warning and an elevated command prompt when an existing printer connection driver needs to be updated. -Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP client computers can create a printer connection to any server in their forest using Point and Print. If you disable this policy setting: -Windows Vista client computers can create a printer connection to any server using Point and Print. -Windows Vista computers will not show a warning or an elevated command prompt when users create a printer connection to any server using Point and Print. -Windows Vista computers will not show a warning or an elevated command prompt when an existing printer connection driver needs to be updated. -Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP client computers can create a printer connection to any server using Point and Print. -The “Users can only point and print to computers in their forest” setting applies only to Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP SP1 (and later service packs).
Pre-populate printer search location text
Enables the physical Location Tracking setting for Windows printers. Use Location Tracking to design a location scheme for your enterprise and assign computers and printers to locations in the scheme. Location Tracking overrides the standard method used to locate and associate computers and printers. The standard method uses a printer’s IP address and subnet mask to estimate its physical location and proximity to computers. If you enable this setting users can browse for printers by location without knowing the printer’s location or location naming scheme. Enabling Location Tracking adds a Browse button in the Add Printer wizard’s Printer Name and Sharing Location screen and to the General tab in the Printer Properties dialog box. If you enable the Group Policy Computer location setting the default location you entered appears in the Location field by default. If you disable this setting or do not configure it Location Tracking is disabled. Printer proximity is estimated using the standard method (that is based on IP address and subnet mask).
Computer location
If this policy setting is enabled it specifies the default location criteria used when searching for printers. This setting is a component of the Location Tracking feature of Windows printers. To use this setting enable Location Tracking by enabling the “Pre-populate printer search location text” setting. When Location Tracking is enabled the system uses the specified location as a criterion when users search for printers. The value you type here overrides the actual location of the computer conducting the search. Type the location of the user’s computer. When users search for printers the system uses the specified location (and other search criteria) to find a printer nearby. You can also use this setting to direct users to a particular printer or group of printers that you want them to use. If you disable this setting or do not configure it and the user does not type a location as a search criterion the system searches for a nearby printer based on the IP address and subnet mask of the user’s computer.
Package Point and print – Approved servers
Restricts package point and print to approved servers. This policy setting restricts package point and print connections to approved servers. This setting only applies to Package Point and Print connections and is completely independent from the “Point and Print Restrictions” policy that governs the behavior of non-package point and print connections. Windows Vista and later clients will attempt to make a non-package point and print connection anytime a package point and print connection fails including attempts that are blocked by this policy. Administrators may need to set both policies to block all print connections to a specific print server. If this setting is enabled users will only be able to package point and print to print servers approved by the network administrator. When using package point and print client computers will check the driver signature of all drivers that are downloaded from print servers. If this setting is disabled or not configured package point and print will not be restricted to specific print servers.
Only use Package Point and print
This policy restricts clients computers to use package point and print only. If this setting is enabled users will only be able to point and print to printers that use package-aware drivers. When using package point and print client computers will check the driver signature of all drivers that are downloaded from print servers. If this setting is disabled or not configured users will not be restricted to package-aware point and print only.