Adding Shared Printer to Windows client

To add a print queue shared from windows server to a windows client , the normal way will be adding the printer queue from “Control Panel” -> “Devices and Printers” -> “Add a printer” , and then input the correct shared printer name like “\\print-server1\printer1” as follows :

pq1.JPG

However, even the windows printer server does has both x32 , x64 printer drivers , the clients still have chances that will fail to add such print queue , mostly because printer driver problem downloaded from server. There are also cases that even you can add such shared printqueue successfully for one time , it somehow will fail to serve its function sometimes later , ofc , again for unknown reasons . I guess the most reliable way to add windows shared printer queue on client will be adding through Windows LPR port .

You need to have administrator rights for it. The first step to add shared printer queue through windows LPR port will be turning on a windows features for “LPR Port monitor” (on Windows 7, Windows 2008 Server) , and then you can start add the Printer queue by : Add Printer -> Add a local or network printer as an administrator -> Add Local Print Printer ->

Create a new port : LPR Port
Name or Address of Server Providing LPD : print-server1
Name of Printer or Print queue on that server : printer1

pq2.JPG

Afterwards, choose the correct printer driver from the list , and proceed following screen instruction . You don’t need to share the printer in “Printer Sharing” .

I once have encountered a problem that windows hangs while creating the Printer LPR port . The fix will be kill the current Add printer windows , and the restart the Printer Spool service , and start over the LPR port print queue adding .

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