Windows NT Printer Driver Support

ID: Q156082

The information in this article applies to:

SUMMARY

This article addresses the following questions regarding the Windows NT printer drivers:


MORE INFORMATION

Who Writes Windows NT Printer Drivers?

Windows NT printer drivers are developed through the cooperation between Microsoft and the independent hardware vendor (IHV) that manufactures the print device. Microsoft's role is to assist IHVs with programming and testing of the printer driver's interaction with Windows NT. The role of the IHV is to assist Microsoft in addressing either the general features or the entire feature set of the print device.

Where Are the Printer Drivers Available from Microsoft?

Windows NT supports all print devices listed in the latest Hardware Compatibility List (HCL). A copy of the HCL is located in the Support directory on the Windows NT compact disc. For the most recent HCL, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q131303
TITLE : Latest Windows NT Hardware Compatibility List
If a print device is not listed in the HCL and there is a high demand for printer support in Windows NT, Microsoft can work with the IHV to make the printer drivers available. To make your need for a particular driver known to Microsoft, please see step 3 in the "What If Microsoft Does Not Have the Printer Driver?" section below.

For a list of the latest drivers, see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q142643
TITLE : Windows NT 4.0 Driver Library
For a list of these drivers, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

G E T W N T D L

NOTE: This query will not work on TechNet or the web.

Other locations of the printer drivers are as follows: If the printer drivers are not on the locations listed above, determine if the print device supports PostScript. Nearly all PostScript print devices ship with a PostScript Printer Description (PPD) file that can be used to add support for the print device. Microsoft does not support PPD files from OEM vendors. Contact your manufacturer for information about PPD files for your postscript printer. For instructions on installing a PPD file in Windows NT 3.51, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q142057
TITLE : How to Install PPD Files from PostScript Printer Manufacturers

What If Microsoft Does Not Have the Printer Driver?

If Microsoft does not have the printer driver:
  1. Find a printer driver emulation that can provide the correct output. If your printer is a new model, you may want to try the driver for the previous model.


  2. Contact the printer manufacturer to see if they have a Windows NT printer driver. Some printer manufacturers do develop drivers for Windows NT.


  3. Indicate your desire for a printer driver by sending e-mail to ntwish@microsoft.com. Do not include technical support questions in the e-mail to ntwish; include only the manufacturer of the printer, and the make and model. Microsoft will use this information to gauge demand for a particular printer driver.

    NOTE: Sending mail to ntwish in no way guarantees that a driver for your printer will be written by Microsoft. Additionally, you will not receive a reply to any e-mail sent to ntwish.


Additionally, the following website is available for product suggestions:

http://www.microsoft.com/regwiz/regwiz.asp

Additional query words: 3.10 3.50 3.51 4.00 prodnt 


Keywords          : kbnetwork ntprint NTSrvWkst 
Version           : winnt:
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        :

Last Reviewed: March 6, 1999