Server print queue question

[Jason]

Hello,

Was hoping someone might have some experience with this:

I currently have a Windows 2003 Standard Server acting as my current print
server, Operating System is 32-bit. Until recently all my PCs were 32-bit,
but now I have a batch of 64-bit PCs coming in. I am planning for their
installation, have necessary drivers, etc. However, I was wondering what the
best way for printer installation might be? Does anyone know if I can
install the 64-bit version of the driver as an "additional printer driver" to
the already existing print queue? Or perhaps I can install the same printer
a second time and rename it as Printer-x64 or something and share it out that
way?

Many thanks for any responses.

 

[Alan Morris [MSFT]]

Re: Server print queue question

It's best to install the 64bit drivers on the 32bit print server. When the
64 client makes the connection, the spooler gets the driver name. For
drivers that are included in the OS, this driver will be installed. HP
renamed a bunch of their Vista drivers so many times this will fail. When
the driver name does not match any inbox, the client is prompted for a path
to the driver.

When adding x64 drivers to the x86 server, read the dialogs when prompted
for files. You need to point to the x64 inf for the printer, driver files
for the printer, and core OS files from the x64 OS CD if the vendor requires
them.


--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

"Jason" <Jason@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:325A8163-3B7A-4CBF-ACDF-C9AB269A53CE@microsoft.com...
> Hello,
>
> Was hoping someone might have some experience with this:
>
> I currently have a Windows 2003 Standard Server acting as my current print
> server, Operating System is 32-bit. Until recently all my PCs were
> 32-bit,
> but now I have a batch of 64-bit PCs coming in. I am planning for their
> installation, have necessary drivers, etc. However, I was wondering what
> the
> best way for printer installation might be? Does anyone know if I can
> install the 64-bit version of the driver as an "additional printer driver"
> to
> the already existing print queue? Or perhaps I can install the same
> printer
> a second time and rename it as Printer-x64 or something and share it out
> that
> way?
>
> Many thanks for any responses.

 

[Jason]

Re: Server print queue question

Thanks for the respons Alan and your response is sort of what I expected.
However in testing, I clicked on the existing printer (printer on the x86
server) and selected "Additional Drivers" and then select the x64. It then
asked me for the driver, pointed to that, then it asked for NTPRINT.INF which
I attemted to use the current version of the file. I assume you are stating
at this point to use the x64 OS CD. Just wanted to clarify as the server I
am doing this on is Windows 2003 Server Standard 32-bit. So are you stating
I need to get these additional files (NTPRINT.INF) from an x64 Windows 2003
CD or the x64 Client OS CD (XP or Vista)? Thanks again for your response.

"Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:

> It's best to install the 64bit drivers on the 32bit print server. When the
> 64 client makes the connection, the spooler gets the driver name. For
> drivers that are included in the OS, this driver will be installed. HP
> renamed a bunch of their Vista drivers so many times this will fail. When
> the driver name does not match any inbox, the client is prompted for a path
> to the driver.
>
> When adding x64 drivers to the x86 server, read the dialogs when prompted
> for files. You need to point to the x64 inf for the printer, driver files
> for the printer, and core OS files from the x64 OS CD if the vendor requires
> them.
>
>
> --
> Alan Morris
> Windows Printing Team
> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
>
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
>
> "Jason" <Jason@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:325A8163-3B7A-4CBF-ACDF-C9AB269A53CE@microsoft.com...
> > Hello,
> >
> > Was hoping someone might have some experience with this:
> >
> > I currently have a Windows 2003 Standard Server acting as my current print
> > server, Operating System is 32-bit. Until recently all my PCs were
> > 32-bit,
> > but now I have a batch of 64-bit PCs coming in. I am planning for their
> > installation, have necessary drivers, etc. However, I was wondering what
> > the
> > best way for printer installation might be? Does anyone know if I can
> > install the 64-bit version of the driver as an "additional printer driver"
> > to
> > the already existing print queue? Or perhaps I can install the same
> > printer
> > a second time and rename it as Printer-x64 or something and share it out
> > that
> > way?
> >
> > Many thanks for any responses.
>
>
>

 

[Alan Morris [MSFT]]

Re: Server print queue question

For Server 2003 SP1 and SP2 you must point to the AMD64 decorated
ntprint.inf. Use Server 2003 x64 or XP Pro x64. If you have all Vista
clients add the Vistas x64 drivers remotely to the print server.

; Decorated Manufacturer section.
;
; This section lists all of the manufacturers
; that we will display in the Dialog box
;
[Manufacturer]
%Agfa%=Agfa,NTamd64
%Alps%=Alps,NTamd64
%Apollo%=Apollo,NTamd64
%Apple%=Apple,NTamd64
%APS-PS%=APS-PS,NTamd64
.....




--
Alan Morris
Windows Printing Team
Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

"Jason" <Jason@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A713B952-B3D5-4573-99F1-0292CF543C24@microsoft.com...
> Thanks for the respons Alan and your response is sort of what I expected.
> However in testing, I clicked on the existing printer (printer on the x86
> server) and selected "Additional Drivers" and then select the x64. It
> then
> asked me for the driver, pointed to that, then it asked for NTPRINT.INF
> which
> I attemted to use the current version of the file. I assume you are
> stating
> at this point to use the x64 OS CD. Just wanted to clarify as the server
> I
> am doing this on is Windows 2003 Server Standard 32-bit. So are you
> stating
> I need to get these additional files (NTPRINT.INF) from an x64 Windows
> 2003
> CD or the x64 Client OS CD (XP or Vista)? Thanks again for your response.
>
> "Alan Morris [MSFT]" wrote:
>
>> It's best to install the 64bit drivers on the 32bit print server. When
>> the
>> 64 client makes the connection, the spooler gets the driver name. For
>> drivers that are included in the OS, this driver will be installed. HP
>> renamed a bunch of their Vista drivers so many times this will fail.
>> When
>> the driver name does not match any inbox, the client is prompted for a
>> path
>> to the driver.
>>
>> When adding x64 drivers to the x86 server, read the dialogs when prompted
>> for files. You need to point to the x64 inf for the printer, driver
>> files
>> for the printer, and core OS files from the x64 OS CD if the vendor
>> requires
>> them.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Alan Morris
>> Windows Printing Team
>> Search the Microsoft Knowledge Base here:
>> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[ln];kbhowto
>>
>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> rights.
>>
>> "Jason" <Jason@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:325A8163-3B7A-4CBF-ACDF-C9AB269A53CE@microsoft.com...
>> > Hello,
>> >
>> > Was hoping someone might have some experience with this:
>> >
>> > I currently have a Windows 2003 Standard Server acting as my current
>> > print
>> > server, Operating System is 32-bit. Until recently all my PCs were
>> > 32-bit,
>> > but now I have a batch of 64-bit PCs coming in. I am planning for
>> > their
>> > installation, have necessary drivers, etc. However, I was wondering
>> > what
>> > the
>> > best way for printer installation might be? Does anyone know if I can
>> > install the 64-bit version of the driver as an "additional printer
>> > driver"
>> > to
>> > the already existing print queue? Or perhaps I can install the same
>> > printer
>> > a second time and rename it as Printer-x64 or something and share it
>> > out
>> > that
>> > way?
>> >
>> > Many thanks for any responses.
>>
>>
>>