Adding Print Drivers to alternate Kernel OS (x86 to x64 or x64 to x86)
This came up today and I thought I’d post it due to the limited amount of info I found regarding it on ms.com (although its all up there – just spread over 12 articles from what I could see). If this has been published to a KB already then I'm stupid - please leave a comment w/it if you find it.
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Add x64 Print Drivers to x86 Server
Method One:
Logon to a x64 bit 2003/2008 server or client (XP/Vista) with Admin rights to the x86 Print Server
Connect to the print server using the UNC path \\x86Server
You will see the printers and faxes folder among others
Open the Printers and Faxes folder
Go to File--> server properties -> Drivers tab and do an Add driver
Additionally you can go to already existing printer properties and in the sharing
tab click on additional driver and install the x64 driver.
NOTE: If you want to add a Vista driver the client system should be Vista and likewise for XP.
Method Two:
To add the x64 driver, copy the AMD64 folder from the Windows 2003 Server x64 CD
ROM.
Copy it to a folder on the 32 bit print server.
On the windows 2003 32 bit server, open Printers and Faxes.
Click file/ server properties
Click the drivers tab
Click the add button
Click next
Click the x64 check box
Click next
Click on have Disk
Point it to the AMD64 folder
Find your printer in the list.
Click next
Click finish
You would reverse the process for x64 print server w/x86 drivers or use the following:
On a x64 Windows Vista / 2003 / 2008 system
Click on Start, Control Panel
Double click on Printers
Press the ALT button
or
Click on Organize, Layout, Menu Bar
Click on File, Run as administrator, Server Properties...
Click on the Drivers tab
Click on Add...
Click on Next
Uncheck the 'x64 Type 3 - User Mode'
Check the 'x86 Type 3 - User Mode'
Click on Have Disk...
Click on Browse... (to the x86 (32-bit) machine)
\\x86Server\c$\windows\system32\driverstore\filerepository\prn*.inf_{GUID}
or
\\x86Vista\c$\windows\system32\driverstore\filerepository\prn*.inf_{GUID}
For example:
\\x86W2K8\c$\windows\system32\driverstore\filerepository\prnhp001.inf_5fecfc5e\prnhp
001.inf
Click on Open
Click on Ok
Under "Printers"
Select the print driver that you want to install
Click on Next
Click on Finish
Now you should be able to see the x86 print driver installed under the "Processor" column.
Click on Close
Some other cool info I learned:
Vista/Server2008:Where the Microsoft (Inbox) print drivers are kept
On a x86/x64 Windows XP RTM/SP1/SP2 or a x86/x64 Windows Server 2003 RTM/SP1/SP2:
The C:\windows\inf\ntprint.inf is 1532 KB
On a x86/x64 Windows Vista RTM/SP1 or a x86/x64 Windows Server 2008 RTM :
The C:\windows\inf\ntprint.inf is 10KB
They are now kept in:
c:\windows\system32\driverstore\filerepository\prn*.inf_{Unique ID}
Note: Where {Unique ID} = 8 alphanumeric letters
Each prn has a prn*****.inf file
c:\windows\system32\driverstore\filerepository\prn*.inf_{GUID}\i386
c:\windows\system32\driverstore\filerepository\prn*.inf_{GUID}\Amd64
For example:
prnao001.inf_bb189e98
prnbr001.inf_aef373d6
prnca001.inf_9ca6d228
…..