Stopping USB/LPT Printer installs

#1 Steely

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Posted 03 March 2004 - 04:43 PM

Wonder if you could help? We're running a Windows 2000 Network with 1000+ XP Pro clients and we're looking at stopping users connecting Parallel/USB local printers at their workstations.

Anyone know of a way we can stop users adding local printers, but still enable them to use cameras, scanners and other USB devices and add network printers?

Thanks

Dan

#2 jimbo

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Posted 03 March 2004 - 09:40 PM

I'm not sure how to disable the USB printers but for the parallel ones you could disable the LPT port in the BIOS and then password the Bios so no one can get in.

#3 duhmez

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Posted 03 March 2004 - 11:15 PM

Using group policy in AD deny their group the right to install hardwARE.

#4 Steely

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Posted 04 March 2004 - 12:35 PM

Thanks for your replies. I know that it's likely that a Group Policy is in order, the only problem is that where the change can be made to. We don't want to prohibit users from using/installing USB hardware, only to stop them installing USB and parallel printers.

With over 1000+ clients, disabling the LPT port in BIOS on each, isn't really an option, it would take days! ;-)