Disallow installation of printers using kernel-mode drivers

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.

Policy path: 

Printers

Scope: 

Machine

Supported on: 

Windows Server 2003 Windows XP and Windows 2000 only

Registry settings: 

HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Printers!KMPrintersAreBlocked

Filename: 

Printing.admx

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