After the PrintNightmare patch, configuring a Windows Server print server stopped being trivial. Error 0x00000709 when connecting a shared printer became a headache for administrators. We deal with such requests daily: clients complain about access denied, drivers not installing, GPOs not applying. Proper Point and Print configuration and Group Managed Service Accounts (gMSA) are key to stable centralized printing. Let's break down how to avoid common mistakes and reduce support time.
Our team of DevOps engineers with 10 years of Windows Server experience has successfully deployed print servers for 200+ companies of various sizes — from small businesses to distributed enterprises with dozens of branches. Over the years, we've built GPO templates, scripts, and methodologies that reduce print-related support tickets by 70%. Licensing and maintenance savings reach 40% compared to a decentralized setup.
Without a print server, each user connects printers manually, drivers are installed haphazardly, queues go unmonitored — resulting in 5–7 times more support calls. Our deployments cut tickets by 70% and reduce average incident resolution time from 4 hours to 15 minutes.
How to Configure Point and Print after PrintNightmare?
Previously, you could simply allow driver installation via GPO. Now the Point and Print Restrictions policy under Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Printers requires specifying a list of trusted servers. Here's an example registry configuration:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Printers\PointAndPrint]
"Restricted"=dword:1
"TrustedServers"=hex(7):70,00,72,00,69,00,6e,00,74,00,73,00,65,00,72,00,76,00,65,00,72,00,31,00,00,00,70,00,\ 72,00,69,00,6e,00,74,00,73,00,65,00,72,00,76,00,65,00,72,00,32,00,00,00,00,00
This forces clients to trust only the specified servers. Without it, users will see error 0x00000709.
Why Group Managed Service Accounts (gMSA) Improve Print Service Security?
Using gMSA for the print service automatically updates the password without manual intervention, eliminating the risk of account compromise. It also simplifies access management to network resources. We recommend creating a gMSA and assigning it to the Spooler service. Our engineers are Windows Server certified and have experience with gMSA in large domains.
How to Auto-Connect Printers via GPO?
Now that trusted servers are set, you can configure automatic connection. The best method is through User Configuration → Preferences → Printers → Shared Printer. Specify the path \\printserver\HP-Accounting-1F, check Set this printer as the default printer, and use Item-level targeting to bind to an AD group like "Accounting".
For drivers, in the same GPO, enable Show only printers in the forest and disable Allow installation of printers using Point and Print. But if a driver is not compatible with Windows 10/11, it must be added to the server beforehand via Add-PrinterDriver.
How to Monitor Print Queues and Troubleshoot?
The most frequent support request: "Printer not working, job stuck." With a print server, this is resolved in minutes using PowerShell:
# View all queues and their status
Get-Printer | Select Name, PrinterStatus, JobCount
# Stuck jobs in a queue
Get-PrintJob -PrinterName "HP-Accounting-1F" | Select Id, UserName, JobStatus, Size
# Remove a stuck job
Remove-PrintJob -PrinterName "HP-Accounting-1F" -ID 42We recommend setting up Event Viewer alerts: on print error, email the admin. This reduces MTTR by 3–4 times (print server deployment cuts incident response time by 3–4 times compared to manual management).
Comparison: Manual Management vs Print Server
| Parameter | Without Print Server | With Print Server |
|---|---|---|
| Driver installation | Manually on each PC | Once on server, auto-distribute via GPO |
| User connection | Support calls | Automatic by AD groups |
| Queue monitoring | Local only | Single PowerShell console or Print Management |
| Security | Uncontrolled | Point and Print, trusted servers, gMSA |
| Incident MTTR | Hours | Minutes |
| Maintenance costs | High (manual labor) | Up to 40% savings |
What's Included in the Setup Service
- Infrastructure audit: inventory of printers, protocols, drivers.
- Design: choose model (single server or cluster), plan GPOs and AD groups.
- Implementation: install role, add printers, configure Point and Print and auto-connection.
- Testing: verify with pilot user group, measure print speed.
- Documentation: diagrams, PowerShell scripts, user instructions.
- Support: 30-day warranty on configurations, incident consultations.
Work Stages and Timelines
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Audit and design | 0.5–1 day |
| Role installation and printer migration | 0.5–1 day |
| GPO and auto-connection configuration | 0.5–1 day |
| Testing and handover | 0.5 day |
| Scale | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Up to 10 printers, basic GPO | 1–2 days |
| 10–50 printers, multiple sites | 2–4 days |
| Over 50 printers, clustering, HA | 5–10 days |
Pricing is determined individually after an audit — contact us to discuss your project. Order a turnkey setup, and get a consultation and timeline estimate within a day.
According to Microsoft documentation, proper Point and Print configuration is critical for security.