How do I properly setup my network so that client computers automatically have the printers installed?

Question

Here is the scoop. In my school we have 3 computer labs, each with 30 computers. All of these connect to a new Dell Server running Windows Server 2003, standard edition.

The server is setup as a file sharing printer and a print server.

Before the school year, we decided it would be nice to not have to walk the kids through setting up the printer, so we logged onto the client machines locally, and added the network printers, beliving that when the students logged on, the printer would already be installed on that machine.

Turns out we were wrong. So, I logged onto a computer, through the domain, with admin access and setup the printer. Still, when students log on, there are no printers installed.

So, my question is... how do I set this up so that when a new user logs on, the printer is already installed?

Thank you!!!

Answer 1

This article also applies to Windows XP:
http://www.windowsitpro.com/Articles/ArticleID/19864/19864.html?Ad=1

The Default User folder is in C:\Documents and Settings\Default User by the way.

Answer 2

Interesting

My experience is:

1. Set up printers on the server and enable sharing on each printer at the server's configuration
2. Windows XP will find the printers and all will fall into place automatically. Usually the printer name starts with "auto" and the name, e.g. printer named "room_210" may be called "auto room_210".

If your client pcs are not Win XP, I am not sure they will auto find them.