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How to clear the print queue when the user logs off (Workgroup Version)

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A common problem with using a client that multiple users log into is that a sensitive document could be stuck in the local print queue. With law suit heavy lawyers running around, you do not want to put your organization at risk. The below procedure will help to mitigate this issue. (Note: The following procedure is performed and tested on Windows 7) This procedure will set up your clients to clear their print queues when a user logs off. This prevents the printer from coming online and printing sensitive information when another user logs on.

On your Windows 7 client, click image , type Notepad and press Enter.

Copy and past the following code:

net stop spooler
del %systemroot%\system32\spool\printers\*.shd
del %systemroot%\system32\spool\printers\*.spl
net start spooler

Click File \ Save As

In the Save as Type: dropdown box, select All FIles.

In the File name: box, type C:\DeletePrinJobs.cmd.

In a production environment, you may want to put this somewhere other then the C: drive. The above batch file will clear out any stuck printouts in the print queue on the local client when it the batch file is ran. To test this, I created two fictitious printers. One is the default printer, the other is not.

image

I sent test pages to both. Right now we have documents pending in both queues. When the batch file was ran, both queues emptied. To get this to happen each time a user logs off, you need to place it in a log off script.

Save this script to a location on the hard drive that all users have access to.

Next, we need to configure the local policy on the client to run this script as a log off script.

Click image , type MMC and press Enter.

Click File \ Add Remove Snap-in…

Select Group Policy Object, click Add

Click Finish  and then click OK

Expand User Configuration \ Windows Settings

Click Scripts (Logon/Logoff)

image

Click Double click Logoff

Click Add

Click Browse

Browse to the location where you stored the script.

Click the script that you created and then click Open

Click OK

Close the policy.

From here you will have to apply the GPO according to your company policies.

Once the GPO is applied, each time you users log off the client, any printouts in the local print queue will be deleted.

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