You can change the default printer spool directory for all printers or the printer spool directory for specific printers. To change the default printer spool directory for all printers add the following value HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Print \ Printers Value Name: DefaultSpoolDirectory Data Type: REG_SZ String: full path to printer spool directory To change the default printer spool directory for specific printers add the following value HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Print \ Printers \ Value Name: SpoolDirectory Data Type: REG_SZ String: full path to printer spool directory You must make sure that the path specified actually exists. If it does not exist, Windows NT uses the default spool directory.
Printer PopUp and Event Logging
To prevent PopUp messages from appearing upon print job completion: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SYSTEM \ CurrentControlSet \ Control \ Print \ Providers To prevent PopUp notification: add a value name of NetPopup, set REG_DWORD to 0. To prevent logging: Add VALUE: EventLog set Reg_DWORD to 0. You will have to stop and restart the spooler from services in the Control Panel, and you may wish to reboot.
RISC-y Printing
If you have a RISC-based server, you can enable multiplatform network printing. This way, Intel-based Windows NT client systems can print over the network without having printer drivers loaded on each workstation. Add the Intel and RISC-based printer drivers by logging into one of the Intel workstations using an account with administrative privileges. Start Print Manager, select Printer / Server Viewer, select the RISC-based server on which to install Intel drivers and select Print / Properties. Once the Printer Properties dialog appears, select Other in the Driver: field, and an Install Driver dialog appears. Enter the pathname to the Intel printer driver's location, click on OK and a Select Driver dialog appears. Select the appropriate printer and click on OK. Now you can print over the network without loading a local driver (it'll be copied over the network as needed).
Where is that WinNT Driver for my Printer? (Excerpts from KB article Q156082)
"Windows NT printer drivers are developed through the cooperation between Microsoft and the independent hardware vendor (IHV) that manufactures the print device. Microsoft's role is to assist IHVs with programming and testing of the printer driver's interaction with Windows NT. The role of the IHV is to assist Microsoft in addressing either the general features or the entire feature set of the print device." See "Freeware tools for Windows NT" earlier on this page for download download sites for new drivers. If you have an unsupported PostScript printer, see Q142057 for instructions on installing the PPD that came with your printer. If Microsoft does not have the printer driver: 1. Find a printer driver emulation that can provide the correct output. If your printer is a new model, you may want to try the driver for the previous model. 2. Contact the printer manufacturer for a Windows NT printer driver. Some printer manufacturers do develop drivers for Windows NT. 3. Indicate your desire for a printer driver by sending to ntwish@microsoft.com. Do not include technical support questions in the e-mail to ntwish; include only the manufacturer of the printer, and the make and model. Microsoft will use this information to gauge demand for a particular printer driver.
