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--- microsoft_windows:terminalserver:rdp_printer [2019/03/07 01:55] – external edit 127.0.0.1
+++ microsoft_windows:terminalserver:rdp_printer [2021/03/13 23:16] (current) – rodolico
@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 In some cases, however, this does not work, for some reason. In those cases, if you can find the correct driver, install it on your Terminal Server (ie, your Remote Desktop Server). Some printer vendors offer the bare bones drivers, so all you need to do is install them on the server. In other cases, however, you will need to download the installer and unpack it. Many installers are simply compressed archives which unpack themselves into the users //Temp// directory, then execute the actual install program.
+If you're lucky, many printer manufacturers allow you download only the driver itself. Brother and Lexmark are good about this, as are others. Some (especially HP) want to do the whole thing, and add a bunch of bogus utilities to track your usage and try to sell you supplies when your ink/toner is running out. In that case, you have to do some work arounds to actually get to the drivers.
   - Download the installer for your printer to your server
-  - Open file explorer to c:\users\yourusername\appdata\temp
+  - Execute the installer.
-  - Execute the installer. A new directory may appear in your temp directory. If it does not, this procedure will not work so stop now.
+    - If the installer creates a directory someplace you can easy to get to, you're good. Exit the installer and continue.
-  - Wait for the installer to finish unpacking, then copy the newly created directory someplace you can play with it (ie, your Desktop).
+    - If the installer "cleans up" after you abort the install (especially HP printers), you much hack them
-  - Exit the installer
+      - Open file explorer to c:\users\yourusername\appdata\temp
-  - Go to Add a new Printer, wherever it is on your workstation/server
+      - Execute the installer again and look for a new directory, usually in c:\users\yourusername\appdata\temp
-  - Set the port to lpt1:
+      - Copy the newly created directory someplace, like your Desktop or the Downloads directory
+      - Exit the installer
+  - The "server" way of adding printer drivers
+    - Open a command prompt as an administrator
+    - Run the command mmc
+    - File | Add/Remove Snap-in (Ctrl+M)
+    - Add Print Management
+    - Add the Local Server
+    - Finish
+    - Open Print Management | Print Servers | server (local) | Drivers
+    - Action | Add Drivers
+    - Add the driver
+  - The "hack" way to do it
+    - Go to Add a new Printer, wherever it is on your workstation/server
+    - Set the port to lpt1:
   - When you get to the drivers session, select Have Disk, then navigate to the directory you copied above.
   - Move through the directory until you find a printer driver file. This will be a file (not directory) which shows up as the files shown are filtered to only show printer drivers.
   - Select the file, then click Continue (or whatever the key is)
   - Select the printer from the list
-  - Finish the install, but don't send a test page.
+  - Finish the install
 At this point, you have made your Server (I include the Pro workstations, if that is what you're doing) aware of the printer. It has the drivers installed. Now, **delete** the printer you just created. This will not remove the drivers, just the bogus printer you "installed".