How To - Get around installing 32Bit Drivers on a 64Bit System

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  • TheOwl
    Service Manager

    Site Contributor
    1,000+ Posts
    • Nov 2008
    • 1732

    #1

    How To - Get around installing 32Bit Drivers on a 64Bit System

    Time for another how to as I have come across this one a few times lately and that is how to install 32Bit driver on 64Bit systems when you get the message to "Please insert the x86 Media" or "Could not find ntprint.inf for x86" dialog boxes. Typically you would get this message when you go to Printer Properties > Sharing > Additional Drivers > x86 > Pointed to the 32Bit driver > error.

    The scenario that I am going to use is within a Domain where you are trying to install 64 and 32Bit drivers onto the server which you will then share out the print queue so that all computers are covered.

    When you come across this error, you may need the help of the IT people, or a customer that knows either the "Domain Admin" or "Administrator" logon credentials. If you know what you are doing, then you could also create a new user and add them to either of these groups.

    1. Logon on to a 32Bit PC
    2. Install the 32Bit Driver (doesn't actually have to have the port setup correctly, LPT1 will do)
    3. Start > Run
    4. \\<servername> (where the print queue is installed)
    5. Printer Properties if on a 2008 Server or Printers and Faxes > Printer Properties on a 2003 box.
    6. Sharing
    7. Addidtional Drivers
    8. x86

    You should now see that the drivers are being copied to the server. Once this is done, you can then delete the local print queue that you setup on the 32Bit PC.

    Now that you are completed, you can now point to the queue on the server and the 32Bit and 64Bit PC's will automatically be given the print driver when they connect to the print queue.

    This doesn't happen all the time as alot of manufacturers build information into their 32Bit print drivers to make them work on a 64Bit box for sharing, but every now and then you get a pair of drivers that won't, therefore you would use the above procedures.

    Hope this helps anyone having difficulty.

    Owl Out....
    Please don't ask me for firmware or service manuals as refusal often offends.
  • sandmanmac
    Field Supervisor

    Site Contributor
    2,500+ Posts
    • Feb 2009
    • 3978

    #2
    Re: How To - Get around installing 32Bit Drivers on a 64Bit System

    Very, very wise indeed!

    Comment

    • JR2ALTA
      Service Manager

      Site Contributor
      1,000+ Posts
      • Feb 2010
      • 2030

      #3
      Re: How To - Get around installing 32Bit Drivers on a 64Bit System

      Thank you.

      Can you confirm that there are windows updates available for 32 bit servers to host 64 bit drivers?

      Comment

      • TheOwl
        Service Manager

        Site Contributor
        1,000+ Posts
        • Nov 2008
        • 1732

        #4
        Re: How To - Get around installing 32Bit Drivers on a 64Bit System

        Originally posted by JR2ALTA
        Thank you.

        Can you confirm that there are windows updates available for 32 bit servers to host 64 bit drivers?
        You have been able to do this since Service Pack 3 of XP and all Windows operating systems since. The option under the additional drivers is "x64 Windows XP".

        Don't worry about the Windows XP part as driver architecture these days is one driver for all 32Bit or 64Bit versions of Windows.
        Please don't ask me for firmware or service manuals as refusal often offends.

        Comment

        • Parlett316
          Technician
          • Nov 2007
          • 21

          #5
          Re: How To - Get around installing 32Bit Drivers on a 64Bit System

          This workaround should be stamped to every EFI Fiery driver. And possibly Kyocera.

          Comment

          • TheOwl
            Service Manager

            Site Contributor
            1,000+ Posts
            • Nov 2008
            • 1732

            #6
            Re: How To - Get around installing 32Bit Drivers on a 64Bit System

            Originally posted by Parlett316
            This workaround should be stamped to every EFI Fiery driver. And possibly Kyocera.
            It will work with any print driver from any manufacturer. The thing you need to watch out for is that the drivers are the same version. I probably should have mentioned this in the original post as well.
            Please don't ask me for firmware or service manuals as refusal often offends.

            Comment

            • Parlett316
              Technician
              • Nov 2007
              • 21

              #7
              Re: How To - Get around installing 32Bit Drivers on a 64Bit System

              Originally posted by TheOwl
              It will work with any print driver from any manufacturer. The thing you need to watch out for is that the drivers are the same version. I probably should have mentioned this in the original post as well.
              The issue with EFI Fiery drivers is that the driver package is both 32 and 64 bit. So you can't build 32 bit support in the sharing tab in the driver share. Your method is the only way I have been able to share a Fiery driver from a server.

              Comment

              • TheOwl
                Service Manager

                Site Contributor
                1,000+ Posts
                • Nov 2008
                • 1732

                #8
                Re: How To - Get around installing 32Bit Drivers on a 64Bit System

                Good to hear that it has helped you out.
                Please don't ask me for firmware or service manuals as refusal often offends.

                Comment

                • nmfaxman
                  Service Manager

                  Site Contributor
                  1,000+ Posts
                  • Feb 2008
                  • 1702

                  #9
                  Re: How To - Get around installing 32Bit Drivers on a 64Bit System

                  I just go to the shared 64x driver share tab and add the 32x to additional drivers for x86 or whatever they need.
                  Works with Server 2003 and 2008.
                  Haven't run into 2012 yet.

                  Less typing and fewer clicks.

                  Just my way.

                  As always............................................ .......
                  Why do they call it common sense?

                  If it were common, wouldn't everyone have it?

                  Comment

                  • TheOwl
                    Service Manager

                    Site Contributor
                    1,000+ Posts
                    • Nov 2008
                    • 1732

                    #10
                    Re: How To - Get around installing 32Bit Drivers on a 64Bit System

                    Originally posted by nmfaxman
                    I just go to the shared 64x driver share tab and add the 32x to additional drivers for x86 or whatever they need.
                    Works with Server 2003 and 2008.
                    Haven't run into 2012 yet.

                    Less typing and fewer clicks.

                    Just my way.

                    As always............................................ .......
                    Not all print drivers provide the information required to install a 32Bit driver on a 64Bit system or vise versa. I have had to do this with a few 2008 R2 servers of late with Konica Minolta drivers as I would say that the 32Bit driver was rushed through and wasn't written correctly for a 64Bit system to accept it correctly.

                    Normally you would be right and drivers should install that way normally, but occasionally you do come across this issue.
                    Please don't ask me for firmware or service manuals as refusal often offends.

                    Comment

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