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jokes54321
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May 3rd, 2008 18:00
Dell Drivers on Windows 2003 Print Server
I am building a new print server (Windows 2003 Server) to replace our aging Windows 2000 print server. I am at the point where I need to add all of the printers.
The old print server has 100+ printers on it. 50% HP and 50% Dell. When the 1720n printer came out I installed the driver and immediatly our applications started generating errors when initializing the Crystal Reports OCX.
I quickly went down the list of Dell printers on the print server and changed the driver for each of them to use an HP LaserJet 4 driver. This solved the problem and printing worked well. Ever since this happened I have always used the LaserJet 4 driver on the Dell printers.
Now that I am building this new server I'm wondering if I should stick to this practice.
I'm also wondering what others that run print servers with a large number of printers are using these days.
Denny
Message Edited by jokes54321 on 05-03-2008 03:43 PM
You can go to drivers and downloads/select product/printers/select your printer. Download the latest drivers and see if they now work.
jokes54321
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Posted May 4th, 2008 01:00
I'll pass.
I'd rather hear from someone else that is hosting 50+ Dell 1700n, 1710n, 1720dn, etc printers on their Windows 2003 print server using Dell drivers before I test it on my server.
The last install cost me hours of labor since it hosed up the existing 50+ previous model Dell printers. It's so frustrating when drivers for one model printer updates DLL's for another model printer and screws up everything.
I thought I had learned my lesson, until two days ago. A remote site bought a new HP LaserJet P2015 and the usual LaserJet 4 drivers wouldn't support printing from one of our applications. I downloaded and installed the HP drivers for the P2015 then all of a sudden users are periodically having problems accessing the printers on the server. Unfortunately removing the driver didn't solve the problem.
At least this new server is running in a virtual instance. The new policy will be stop the virtual server, backup the VHD file then install the printer drivers. If it hoses up the printing system the fix is as easy as rolling back the VHD. I just don't want to waste my time setting up 50+ printers with Dell drivers just to roll back if they don't work.
Is there a cross reference sheet showing which model Dell printers correspond to the Lexmark printers? I'm interested to see if Microsoft included drivers would support these printers.