Windows Server 2003 does not remap DOT4 Printers

Wednesday, 13 February 2008 10:58 by joelevi

Most multifunction printers (you know the kind, they print, they scan, they fax, they make you coffee...) use what's known as a DOT4 driver in Windows. This type of driver differs from the traditional serial "COM" and parallel "LPT" ports, and is different still than a "USB" port (though it's physically connected to your USB bus via a USB port).

In Windows Server 2003 if you're trying to remap a printer, you cannot (without a registry hack) remap a DOT4 driver (only COM, LPT, and USB).

This means that when you install a multifunction printer on a Windows 2003 machine, you should opt for the USB driver (if available), rather than the DOT4. If your printer manufacturer only supplied a DOT4 drive you must try and find the USB driver, or go with a different printer (or go for the registry hack).

A side benefit: USB drivers seem to print notably faster than DOT4 drivers for the same device (at least with the devices we tested).

You can thank me later.


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