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From a Windows 2003 server machine I browsed the network to an XP client (\computername in Explorer) then double-clicked Printers and Faxes and then Add Printer. In the wizard, normally the second screen asks if you want to install a local printer or a network printer. Well, in this case, it seems to assume I want a local printer, because the second screen is what would normally be the third screen if you chose local printer and clicked Next.

I want to install a network printer on a remote machine for its local users. Is this not possible? If not, why not?

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Connections made to a network printer exist only in the relevant user's session.

What you are attempting to do is install a printer for all users of the remote machine, and such a printer can only be locally attached, i.e. USB or parallel. You cannot connect to a shared printer in this case. It can also be a TCP/IP printer port which you create on the remote machine, but in this case you are bypassing the shared printer and printing directly to the printer.

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Ah, okay. For some reason I thought you could install a shared printer for all users. I guess that makes sense. Thanks! – Kev Apr 13 '10 at 13:34
@Kev: You can script it with a login script if you are using active directory. So all users will have that printer added when they login. – einstiien Apr 13 '10 at 15:19
You could script it, but nowadays the preferred method is to use Group Policy preferences, its just sooo much nicer. – Graeme Donaldson Apr 13 '10 at 15:38
@Graeme: good idea, but alas, we are pre-R2. – Kev Apr 16 '10 at 13:06
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@Kev: you can still use preferences, see my previous answer on the topic here: serverfault.com/questions/84056/… – Graeme Donaldson Apr 16 '10 at 14:11
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