GP background refresh and deployed printer issue

[meanoldman]

So I've been having an issue with gpupdate /force that come and goes, so I'm already in a bad mood

Anyway, I deployed three printers using a group policy. One of the printers is a high volume color multi function that has the ability to call for authentication before it will process a job. No authentication, job gets dropped.

Anyway, by default when you send a print job to this printer a dialog box is supposed to popup on your screen that requests proper authentication credentials for the printer. However, something keeps unchecking this setting and I know it isn't a user because that option tab is grayed out for standard users. What I think is happening is when that gp background refreshes throughout the day it unchecks that option. Is that possible?

[jeff_longley]

Taking a backwards step for the moment - Whats the idea behind the authentication? Just to prevent users from accidently printing to it? If so why not just restrict the printer to a specified group of users?

Next up, does the printer deploy correctly first time? If so, I can't see a refresh of group policy "unticking" anything.

[meanoldman]

The authentication is a built-in feature available on the device, a Konica Minolat C552. Since my boss is cheap he wants to make sure we recover the cost of color copies and print jobs so we can charge them back at an astronomical rate to our customers.

So, I can configure users and passwords for those users and as long as a legit combo is entered the device will accept the job and print. If some invalid code is entered, the job looks like it has been sent by Windows, but the device drops it as a job sent in error. If no combo is entered the job is supposed to default to black and white and be allowed to print.

Yes, it deploys first time, but I have to check the option to popup the prompt for authentication in the printer properties. The option will stay ticked for anywhere from a few minutes to a few days.

What I have don in the meantime though is remove the device from the printer deploy gpo, and have it install through a logon script, and so far it hasn't unticked the option.