PruneDownlevel

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Printers

Data type Range Default value
REG_DWORD 0 | 1 | 2 0

Description

Determines whether the system prunes (deletes from Active Directory) printers that are not automatically republished. This policy applies to printers running operating systems other than Windows 2000 and to Windows 2000 printers published outside of their domain

This entry stores the setting of the Prune printers that are not automatically republished Group Policy. Group Policy adds this entry to the registry when you enable the Prune printers that are not automatically republished policy. If you disable the policy or set it to Not configured, Group Policy deletes the entry from the registry and the system behaves as though the value is 0.

The Windows 2000 pruning service prunes printer objects from Active Directory when the computer that published them does not respond to contact requests. Computers running Windows 2000 detect and republish deleted printer objects when they rejoin the network. However, because non–Windows 2000 computers and computers in other domains cannot republish printers in Active Directory automatically, then, by default, the system never prunes their printer objects.

Value Meaning
0 The policy disabled or not configured, or it is enabled and set to Never. Printer objects that are not automatically republished are never pruned.
1 The policy is enabled and set to Only if Print Server is found. The system prunes printer objects that are not automatically republished only if the print server responds, but the printer is unavailable.
2 The policy is enabled and set to Whenever printer is not found. The system prunes printer objects that are not automatically republished whenever the host computer does not respond, just as it does with Windows 2000 printers.

Change method

To change the value of this entry, use Group Policy. This entry corresponds to the Prune printers that are not automatically republished policy (Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Printers).

Note Image Note

This entry applies to printers published by using Active Directory Users and Computers or Pubprn.vbs. It does not apply to printers published by using Printers in Control Panel.

Tip Image Tip

If you disable automatic pruning, remember to delete printer objects manually whenever you remove a printer or print server.

For detailed information about particular Group Policy settings, see the Group Policy Reference (Gp.chm) on the Windows 2000 Resource Kit companion CD.

For general information about Group Policy, see Group Policy in Windows 2000 Help.

To see a table associating policies with their corresponding registry entries, see the Group Policy Reference Table.