How to Obtain Additional Printer Drivers to Use with Windows 2000 Professional (259976)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
This article was previously published under Q259976

SUMMARY

When you use Windows 2000 Professional as a print server on a network that has older clients (for example, Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, Microsoft Windows 95, or Microsoft Windows 98), there are several ways you can obtain and install drivers for these clients. This article describes where you can find the different platform drivers and how to install the drivers in your environment.

MORE INFORMATION

The Windows 2000 Server CD-ROM is the best resource for managing a Windows 2000-based print server (whether it is a Windows 2000 Professional-based computer or an actual server). This CD-ROM includes all of the Windows 2000 drivers, the Windows NT 4.0 drivers through Service Pack 5, and all of the latest Windows 95/98 drivers. You can find these printer drivers in the .\Printers\NT4 and .\Printers\Win9x folders on the CD-ROM.

In addition, the Windows 2000 Server CD-ROM includes the Fixprnsv printer tool in the .\Printers\Fixprnsv folder. You can use this tool to update printer drivers globally on a computer running Windows 2000 or Windows NT 4.0, as well as to automatically add Windows NT 4.0 drivers to a Windows 2000-based computer and Windows 2000 drivers to a Windows NT 4.0 print server. For additional information about how to use the Fixprnsv tool, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

247196 Overview of Fixprnsv.exe

If you do not have access to a Windows 2000 Server CD-ROM, you can still obtain the latest alternate printer drivers from other locations.

Windows NT 4.0

You can find the latest Windows NT 4.0 printer drivers on the latest service pack CD-ROM in the .\Printers folder. The updated printer drivers are not included with the update that you can download from the Web. You can order the latest service pack on CD-ROM at the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/ntserver/default.asp

NOTE: Click the link for the latest service pack and then look for Order the service pack on CD option.

Windows 95/98

Extract the appropriate drivers from the Windows 95/98 cabinet files. For additional information about how to extract the appropriate files, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

142667 How to Share Windows 95 Printer Driver in Windows NT 4.0/Windows 2000

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/6/2003
Keywords:kbenv kbinfo KB259976
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