Credentials when adding printer on Windows 7

[xplatinum]

Clients: Windows 7

Server: Server 2003

We recently migrated some computers to Windows 7. Since then, everytime an employee tries to add a printer to their profile (UNC\install) it prompts them for admin credentials.

What can be done to stop the credentials prompt ? We are getting way too many calls about it :)

Thanks in advance

[Baigley]

Does the user have admin rights over their machine?

Will their credentials install the printer when they provide them? Or is it requesting credentials for the server?

Is UAC enabled on the client machines?

Are you deploying the printers via GPO? Have you thought of this option if not?

After reboot, is the user having to re-connect and re-input the credentials for the printer each time?

[+BudMan MVC]

yeah some more details would be helpful.

From a quick guess I would assume the UAC on the client machine is prompting for admin creds to install the printer, vs just nagging them with the UAC prompt.

I believe this is default when user is not an admin, and they attempt to do something that requires admin so UAC prompts them for account info, vs just an OK button.

You should just be able to allow users/power users to install printers - and then would just get a UAC prompt and not have to put in creds. Have to double check though - not a lot of play time with users installing printers on win7 machines in a domain, etc.

Normally you would just install the domain printers for them with GPO.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc722179%28WS.10%29.aspx

Deploy printers by using Group Policy

[-Viper-]

You can implement the following GPOs to have the user be able to install the printer drivers without an admin account:

Computer Configuration->Administrative Templates->Printers->Point and Print Restrictions => Enabled

Computer Configuration->Administrative Templates->Printers->Point and Print Restrictions => Check the box for ?Users can only point and print to machines in their forest?

Computer Configuration->Administrative Templates->Printers->Point and Print Restrictions => When installing drivers for a new connection: ?Do not show warning or elevation prompt?

Computer Configuration->Administrative Templates->Printers->Point and Print Restrictions => When updating drivers for an existing connection: ?Do not show warning or elevation prompt?

Devices: Prevent users from installing printer drivers when connecting to shared printers: Disabled

Also, you may need to make the same changes to User Configuration as well.