Requirements for proper function of the Directory Services Printer Pruner in an enterprise

For the Printer Pruner to operate across the enterprise and allow for the scavenging of orphaned queues on an unmanaged basis, every site in the enterprise must have at least one domain controller running the print spooler (Spoolsv.exe).

Note If a site does not have a domain controller, you can add a site to a domain controller in another site. To do this, follow these steps on a domain controller.

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
2. Locate the following registry subkey:
   HKEY_Local_Machine\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Netlogon\Parameters\
3. Right-click this registry subkey, point to New, and then click Multi-String Value.
4. Type SiteCoverage in the Name box.
5. Double-click the new SiteCoverage registry subkey, click Modify, type the name of the site or sites that you want to add to this domain controller in the Value data box, and then click OK.
   
   Note Set the value to the list of the space-delimited site names.

If a site does not meet this criteria, orphaned printer queue objects can accumulate in the directory. This reduces the effectiveness of the "Search for Printers" option when users query Active Directory, because queues that no longer exist on the network are present in the list users choose from. For more information about the Printer Pruner, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: