Unable to add network printers from Windows Server 2012 R2 to client running Windows 7 Pro x64

Question

New Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard in the environment.  Added print services to it and added five HP printers to it and shared them.  Also deployed the printers via group policy.
Clients are running Windows 7 Pro x64.  The group policy fails to install the printers (error 0x00000002).  We get the same error when trying to manually add the printer from the client side.
From Event Viewer: Group Policy was unable to add per computer connection <<printer share>>. Error code 0x2. This can occur if the name of the printer connection is incorrect, or if the print spooler cannot contact the print server.
Any ideas on troubleshooting this?
Thanks.
-John

Answer 1

John,
You might try playing with the HP universal driver, that might help you.  Try installing a new shared printer on the server using the universal print driver, then try and connect to it to see if it is any better.
Check these GPO settings to ensure local machines can install the drivers.
1. Configure the following two Group Policy settings:
Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\System\Driver Installation\Allow non-administrators to install drivers for these devices setup classesEnabled
2. Device class GUID of printers: {4d36e979-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}
Computer Configuration/Policies/Administrative Templates/Printers/Point and Print RestrictionsEnabled
Security Prompts: When Installing Drivers for a new connection = Do not show warning or elevation prompt
This article might help you out also:
http://www.eversity.nl/blog/2012/09/windows-cannot-connect-to-the-printer-operation-failed-with-error-0x00000002/
Cheers,
Curt Winter
Certified Microsoft Professional
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