Install printerdrivers with WMI and VB.NET

This is an example of how you install printerdrivers with .NET and WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation). Most examples on the Internet shows how this can be done with vbscript, printui.dll and such…

A list of properties can be found at MSDN Win32_PrinterDriver

Other topics:
How to install printerports with WMI and VB.NET
How to create a printerqueu with .NET and WMI

Imports System.Management

Dim infPath  as String = "c:\driver\printerdriver.inf"
Dim mp As ManagementPath = New ManagementPath("Win32_PrinterDriver")

Dim co As ConnectionOptions = New ConnectionOptions()
co.EnablePrivileges = True

Dim ms As ManagementScope = New ManagementScope("\\" + Environment.MachineName + "\root\cimv2", co)

Dim mcPrinterDriver As New ManagementClass(ms, mp, Nothing)
mcPrinterDriver.SetPropertyValue("Name", "drivername")
mcPrinterDriver.SetPropertyValue("SupportedPlatform", "Windows NT x86") ' x86-architecture
'mcPrinterDriver.SetPropertyValue("SupportedPlatform", "Windows x64") ' x64-architecture
mcPrinterDriver.SetPropertyValue("Version", 3)
mcPrinterDriver.SetPropertyValue("FilePath", System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(infPath))
mcPrinterDriver.SetPropertyValue("InfName", infPath)

Dim inParams As System.Management.ManagementBaseObject = Nothing
inParams = mcPrinterDriver.GetMethodParameters("AddPrinterDriver")
inParams("DriverInfo") = CType(mcPrinterDriver, System.Management.ManagementBaseObject)
Dim outParams As System.Management.ManagementBaseObject = mcPrinterDriver.InvokeMethod("AddPrinterDriver", inParams, Nothing)

Dim uiReturnValue As UInteger = System.Convert.ToUInt32(outParams.Properties("ReturnValue").Value)

I have tested this in Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 2008R2. Make sure your account has privileges to install drivers.

On Windows XP the drivers are installed physically to:
C:\WINNT\system32\spool\drivers

And in the registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Print\Environments

2 Comments

Leave a Comment

Username (required) :
Email (required) :
Web Site :
Comment :