Disallow installation of printers using kernel-mode drivers

Supported OS tags: Windows2000, WindowsServer2003, WindowsXP

Determines whether printers using kernel-mode drivers may be installed on the local computer. Kernel-mode drivers have access to system-wide memory, and therefore poorly-written kernel-mode drivers can cause stop errors. If you disable this setting, or do not configure it, then printers using a kernel-mode drivers may be installed on the local computer running Windows XP Home Edition and Windows XP Professional. If you do not configure this setting on Windows Server 2003 family products, the installation of kernel-mode printer drivers will be blocked. If you enable this setting, installation of a printer using a kernel-mode driver will not be allowed. Note: By applying this policy, existing kernel-mode drivers will be disabled upon installation of service packs or reinstallation of the Windows XP operating system. This policy does not apply to 64-bit kernel-mode printer drivers as they cannot be installed and associated with a print queue.

This policy has no additional user input fields.

• Computer
  Activate Internet printing

  Windows 2000 only
• Computer
  Add Printer wizard - Network scan page (Managed network)

  At least Windows Vista
• Computer
  Add Printer wizard - Network scan page (Unmanaged network)

  At least Windows Vista
• Computer
  Allow job name in event logs

  At least Windows Server 2012, Windows 8 or Windows RT
• Computer
  Allow Print Spooler to accept client connections

  At least Windows Server 2003
• Computer
  Allow printers to be published

  At least Windows 2000
• Computer
  Allow pruning of published printers

  At least Windows 2000