DOCUMENT:Q221186 06-AUG-2002 [winnt] TITLE :Printers May Not Install on Computers Created from Other Image PRODUCT :Microsoft Windows NT PROD/VER:winnt:4.0 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0 - Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Q256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry SYMPTOMS ======== When adding a printer for the first time, the user will receive a pop-up message asking if he or she wants to overwrite existing drivers. The user will get this message even though the user never had this printer installed before. Even if the user answers "Yes" to the question, the driver will not install properly. The driver for the printer will not appear in the Spool\Drivers\W32x86\2 folder (for x86-based computers). CAUSE ===== The problem is that the image that was used to create the system had this printer installed and entries are in the registry for this printer but the driver files are not present in the drivers folder. RESOLUTION ========== Before the image is duplicated, use Registry Editor and delete the driver entries in the registry or be sure the %SystemRoot%\System32\Spool\Drivers folder is copied as part of the image. 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 remove the entries in the registry, delete all entries under the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Currentcontrolset\Control \Print\Environments\Windows NT \Drivers\Version- For example, in the case of x86, a user would delete all entries under: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\Currentcontrolset\Control \Print\Environments\Windows NT x86\Drivers\Version-2 STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. Additional query words: ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 Version : winnt:4.0 Issue type : kbbug Solution Type : kbpending ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 2002.