Microsoft KB Archive/239536

Knowledge Base

How to Load Printer Drivers from Trusted Source Only

Article ID: 239536

Article Last Modified on 3/1/2007

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4
• Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 1
• Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 2
• Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3
• Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition

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This article was previously published under Q239536

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SUMMARY

In Windows NT you can install printer drivers from a trusted share, rather than from the remote print server to which your print service is connected.

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To install printer drivers from a trusted source:

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe).
2. Locate the following registry key:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Providers\LanMan Print Services\Servers

3. On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and then add the following value:

   Value Name: LoadTrustedDrivers
   Data Type: REG_DWORD
   Value: 1
   
   A value of 1 indicates that drivers can be installed only from the trusted print server shares specified by the TrustedDriverPath value.

4. On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and then add the following value:

   Value Name: TrustedDriverPath
   Data Type: REG_SZ = \\servername\sharename

   where servername is the name of the appropriate server and sharename is the name of the appropriate share.
   
   

   This value specifies the path to trusted print server shares from which you can install printer drivers. If the LoadTrustedDrivers value is 1, you can only install drivers from the server shares located in the path specified in the value of this entry.
5. Quit Registry Editor, and then restart your computer.

To obtain a set of trusted files, you must install a driver on a computer one time. If you install printer drivers for a Windows NT 4.0 Intel system, the following structure exists:

%SystemRoot%\System32\Spool\Drivers\W32x86\2

You must copy the files from this folder into the \2 subfolder of the trusted driver share. For example, if the share is located in the C:\Tmp folder and the share name is "ins," the structure is C:\Tmp\2 and you must type the following path into the registry:

\\computername\ins

Additional query words: spooler

Keywords: kbinfo kbenv KB239536

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