1

Many of our Network Printers use the generic HP4 driver. Every once in a while I’ll have dozens of computers on my network say they “Need a new driver”. All users are logged in as local computer Administrators. If they click Update driver it acts like it is installing the driver but then gives the same message. If I remove the printer and then re-add it, it installs the driver from the network and then everything works.

I am assuming that Windows Update is updating the HP4 driver on the Print Server, thus requiring the Workstation to get a new driver.

I have adjusted Group Policy to allow users to install the Network Driver themselves, but it doesn’t seem to make a difference. Even logging in as a Network Admin doesn’t let me update the driver by clicking the update driver button. I always have to remove it, then re-add it.

I would like it if the Group Policy would just automatically update the driver if needed, but everything I’ve tried doesn’t seem to accomplish this.

Any suggestions?

6 Spice ups
2

How are you deploying these printers via GPO and is your print server set up correctly. Of a driver gets updated on the print server and these are deployed via GPO the driver should update automatically. If the drivers are not being updated on the server my guess would be that Windows update is trying to update this driver on the client side.

3

I don’t use GPO to deploy the printers. I manually add them as they are needed/requested using Control Panel → Printers → Add Printer. The issue does seem to occur after pushing out updates on WSUS. So I know it is either being updated on the Server or Client Side. The Client Side would make sense. The Print Server is set up as intended. I did notice all of my 32bit drivers are unpackaged. I wasn’t sure if that would make a difference? I haven’t been able to find packaged 32bit HP4 drivers.

4

DIsable WIndows updates updating drivers at least on the server and then you will know if it is a client or server side issue. You can also set up a GPO to allow users to install printers if it jives with your security posture.Computer Config > Admin Templates > Printers > Point and Print Restrictions >

Users can only point and print to machines in their forest. Enabled

When installing drivers for a new connection Do not show warning or elevation prompt

When updating drivers for an existing connection Do not show warning or elevation prompt

5

Thank you. I’ll give that a shot