Vista - Printer Drivers

Help! Bought a Lexmark X5495 all in one printer and when I try to install the driver I keep getting 'the printer driver is not compatible with a policy enabled on your cvomputer that blocks NT 4.0 drivers'. Does any one know what this is and how to disable this thing? Have disabled Norton (the usual suspect!!) and I have also thrown the box away so cannot return to store!!

Printer Driver Is Not Compatible If a Policy Is Enabled on Your Computer


WORKAROUND
To work around this behavior, use either the appropriate method:


Method 1
If you are installing a Windows NT 4.0 print driver, contact your network administrator to have the policy removed.


Method 2
If you want to install a non-Kernel mode driver locally for a remote network printer:
1. In Control Panel, double-click Printers and Faxes.
2. Double-click Add Printer to start the Add Printer Wizard, and then click Next.
3. Click Local printer, click to clear the Automatically detect and install check box, and then click Next.
4. Click Create a new port, and then under Port type, click Local Port.
5. For Port Name, type the path to the printer in the form of \\server\printer, where server is the name of the print server and printer is the name of the printer.
6. Click Next, and then choose a Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003 driver for your printer.
7. Click Next, and then follow the instructions to finish the wizard.
Note: If you use method 2, you will not get printer updates from the print server when the printer driver is later updated on the server.

Hi calfrey and welcome to the forums

Below is a link to the main Lexmark site. In the left hand column, click 'Find Drivers and Downloads'. The default type of product, 'All-In-One Printers', is the correct category, and your printer model is on the 3rd page, so next to 'View Page:' click '3'. The X5495 model is the 3rd one on the top row.
For support, click on 'Get Support'.
For the driver, click on 'Download Driver'. Under 'Select Your Operating System' in the '--Select Windows--' dropdown box, click on 'Vista_x64' or 'Windows Vista' as appropriate. This will bring you to the actual download page. Download and save all available files. You should then be able to install the driver(s) by clicking on the downloaded files.

Lexmark - United States

Who is the system administrator and and how do I remove the policy? Please assume Im thick when you respond!!

1. Which operating system drivers are you trying to install ?

2. Do you have an administrator user account or a standard user account.

I am trying to install a printer driver, which apparently must be an NT4.0 driver. There is a policy enabled on my computer preveting its installation. I am on Windows Vista Premium and I think I am the network adminstirator when I need to operate parental controls~!!

Unfortunately all i have for you is this - read through it and see if it helps.


Windows NT System Management: A Collection of Topics

also this is worth reading

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/archive/printerinf.mspx

echrada, I also have a "can't install the Samsung CLP-300 Series kernel-mode print driver" error message.
The print driver is not compatible with a policy enabled on your computer that blocks NT 4.0 drivers.

I have Vista Home Premium 64 bit OS.

I read your 2 method work-arounds. I don't know or understand this step:
For Port Name, type the path to the printer in the form of \\server\printer, where server is the name of the print server and printer is the name of the printer.

I am just using this as a home computer, I don't have or know about any server settings really.

I am operating and trying to install this as an Administrator / Root User.

Also, this version of Vista does not have the gpedit.msc program.

Can you help me?