http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc7258…

Here's how to use it:

1. Make a batch file, like instructed above

2. put this in it:

CScript c:WINDOWSsystem32prnmngr.vbs -p "PRINTER NAME HERE" -t

exit

3. Either put the bat file in the "All UsersStartup" folder, the default user's startup folder, or make it a login script like the above suggestion.

There certainly is more than one way to skin this cat.

Here is a Microsoft Link on changing the 'Initial' default printer for all users.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307016
Next time I'll verify before posting.

However, I have an alternate situation. I just want an initial setting for all users but allow them to change to a different default printer if they want to without worrying about logging on again and having it change back.

Copying profile settings to the windows default user didn't seem to change that but I'll have to double check. To make the change in the registry seems to have done what I needed it to do.

To do that, make the default printer for a user (or admin) that is logged on already and check this registry key.

HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWindows

and compare the values to:

HKEY_USERS.DEFAULTSoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTWindows

Most likely you will only have to copy the setting for Device for the current user directly to the .DEFAULT users Device value. Otherwise, you can export that registry key "HKEY_CURRENT_USER", change it to "HKEY_USERS.DEFAULT", and import it.

Thanks for the great info and I hope this alternative works for others with the same situation.

First add the network printer using the /ga switch as usual.

A shortcut in the startup folder pointing to a batch file in a local folder on root, with the properties of the shortcut set to run minimized and to "start in" %USERPROFILE% (and the icon changed to one of the pritner-like icons from shell32.dll.

The batch file runs like this:

————————————-

@echo off

SET /A J=0

:CHECKFORPRT

rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /f "printers.txt" /q /ge

For /F "Tokens=3 delims=" %%I In ('type printers.txt ^| find /I "PRINTERNAME"') DO If "%%I"=="PRINTERNAME" GOTO SETDEFAULTPRT

ping 127.0.0.1 -n 2 -w 1000 > nul

SET /A J=J+1

IF %J%==30 GOTO QUIT

GOTO CHECKFORPRT

:SETDEFAULTPRT

ping 127.0.0.1 -n 4 -w 1000 > nul

rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /y /nSERVERPRINTERNAME

:QUIT

If EXIST printers.txt del printers.txt

————————————-

The purpose of the pings is to delay by a second less than the -n switch value (so never use a 1, since there would be no delay.) The ping with "-n 4" that is run even after the printer does get listed is there because setting it as default STILL didn't work right away, and I was willing to live with a permanent 3-second delay. The time delay isn't exact, but is good enough for this.

This has worked so far in the little bit of testing I have done.