TCP/IP Printer deploy via GPP to XP?

[barckleyt]

I have been trying to deploy a TCP/IP printer via GPP to XP workstations with no success.

Is this even possible? After two days of searching, I'm beginning to think not, but everything I've read indicates it should work - in other words, I'm stumped!

The GPP extensions are installed on the XP workstation. The server with the shared driver files is 2003 R2. Domain controller is 2008 R2.

The client gets EventID 4098:
The user 'xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx' preference item in the 'WRK-WINXP-Printer Deploy-DC037-Direct2Printer {EFEB69F6-0C7F-4A42-B6F3-31CD8041550E}' Group Policy object did not apply because it failed with error code '0x8007051b This security ID may not be assigned as the owner of this object.' This error was suppressed.

xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx = the IP address of the TCP/IP printer.

It's like it is trying to set the IP address as the owner of the printer object.

The TCP/IP port is created.
The drivers are installed.
The printer is not created.

I have tried setting this up as a computer preference and as a user preference, but it fails either way.

Help me GP experts, you're my only hope!

[MikeBY]

Found this thread, which might be helpful

Some GPP printers not deploying to XP

If you don't find a solution, you might try running a .vbs script to install the printer.
Installing via VBS script requires that you have prnadmin.dll installed and registered on your XP machine.

[jeff_longley]

any reason you're deploying a TCP/IP printer rather than a shared printer?

[barckleyt]

Just to follow up, I did eventually get this resolved.

I found there are 3 critical things that need to be done to get this to work correctly:
1) Grant the Domain Users group Read permissions on the shared printer (even though it will be a TCP/IP printer, you have to share the printer on a print server somewhere so the client can download the drivers)
2) Change the owner of the shared printer to "SYSTEM"
3) Make sure the print processor of the shared printer is set to "winprint"

These are the 3 big gotchas I encountered. Also, don't forget that an XP client with need the group policy preferences processor installed (I forget the KB#) in order to apply any preferences.

In response to Jeff, we're deploying TCP/IP printers because there is no local print server in these remote offices. They will come accross the WAN to get the drivers when the printers are installed, but then print jobs will go directly to the printer, rather than traversing the WAN (both ways) to the print server.

[brad]

Thanks for using GPAnswers

Brad Rudisail
Tech Support for GPanswers and PolicyPak Software