PRNDRVR - CMD

Overview

The PRNDRVR command (not an actual Windows CMD command) serves as a fictional utility for managing printer drivers. It allows users to add, remove, and manage printer drivers on their Windows system. This tool is crucial in environments where printers need frequent updates or configurations, such as in office settings or in IT management.

Syntax

PRNDRVR [options] [arguments]

Parameters:

  • add: Adds a new printer driver.
  • remove: Removes an existing printer driver.
  • list: Lists all installed printer drivers.
  • update: Updates specified printer driver.

Options:

  • -pname <printer_name>: Specifies the printer name.
  • -drv <driver_file>: Path to the printer driver file.
  • -model <model_name>: Model name of the printer.

Options/Flags

  • -h, --help: Displays help information about the command.
  • -v, --version: Shows the version of the PRNDRVR utility.
  • -f, --force: Forces the operation, ignoring warnings.

Using the -f or --force option can be useful in scripts where no user interaction is desired, and operations must not be halted by interactive prompts.

Examples

  1. Adding a Printer Driver:

    PRNDRVR add -pname "OfficePrinter" -drv "C:\Drivers\office_printer_drv.inf" -model "OfficeJet Pro"

  2. Removing a Printer Driver:

    PRNDRVR remove -pname "OldPrinter"

  3. Listing Printer Drivers:

    PRNDRVR list

  4. Updating a Printer Driver:

    PRNDRVR update -pname "ConferenceRoomPrinter" -drv "C:\Drivers\new_version_drv.inf"

Common Issues

  • Driver not found: Ensure the driver file path is correct and accessible.
  • Permissions error: Run the command prompt as an administrator to avoid permission issues.
  • Unsupported driver model: Check if the printer model is supported and whether the driver corresponds to the model specified.

Integration

To automate the update of printer drivers across several machines, PRNDRVR can be used in conjunction with scripting tools like PowerShell or batch scripts. Here is an example of a batch script that updates printer drivers from a shared network drive:

@echo off
for %%p in (Printer1, Printer2, Printer3) do (
    PRNDRVR update -pname %%p -drv "\\NetworkDrive\Drivers\%%p_new.inf"
)
  • LPQ – Displays the status of a print queue.
  • LPR – Submits files for printing.
  • NET USE – Connects, removes, and configures connections to shared resources, like printers.

For more detailed documentation, users can refer to the Microsoft official documentation or support forums related to printer management and CMD usage.