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Adding Print Drivers to alternate Kernel OS (x86 to x64 or x64 to x86)

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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.

 

rs

 

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

…..

Comments

  • Anonymous
    April 12, 2013
    I appreciate the efforts and guidelines and knowledge sharing. Much appreciated. Thank you. kashifamirbangash@live.com