Re: Shared Printers - connect automatically

Bob wrote:
Hi Kerry,

Article 320138 "How To Disable Automatic Search for Network Printers
and Folders in Windows XP", does describe my probem. And as you
point out, it states "Note This functionality is disabled ... if you
are joined to a domain, ... if an administrator has disabled the
functionality by using Group Policy".

Article 234270 "Using Group Policies to Control Printers in Active
Directory" pertains to listing a printer in AD. I don't see a GPO to
disable "Automatically search for network folders and printers" in
"Folder Options".

So as you write, my domain machines should not be automatically
finding network folders and printers, yet for some reason they are!?!

Maybe if I could find the proper GPO to disable this feature, my
problems would be solved. Any idea where this GPO is?

I have also noticed that machines that are not on the domain, but are
on the network, do connect the printers automatically. Apparently
this is normal behavoir and the GPO would not resolve this. For
these non-domain joined machines, it would be up to the workstation
owner to change the setting (which ain't going to happen).

I guess the only thing I can do for the non-domain joined machines is
to replace the "Everyone" is allowed to print security setting on the
printer with Authenticated Users or maybe Domain Users.

It seems strange to me that a visitor to your network can simply plug
in their laptop and take over a shared network printer by default.

You're right. None of those policies seem to do the trick. You can do it via
the registry but I don't see a group policy to do it.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=276322

I also found this which may help

http://forums.techarena.in/showthread.php?t=391541

One question - you allow unknown vsitiors to connect to your network? You
should be securing any shared devices via permissions. At the very least
they should be restricted to authenticated domain users. Personally if I
had to let visitors connect to my network they would be on a seperate subnet
with very restricted access.

--
Kerry
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
http://www.vistahelp.ca


.

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