Please help me find a printer workaround!

[RobV1306]

So this is a bit of a strange one to be typing in 2020 (feels more like a 1995 problem) but I'm really hoping some of you can help me find a way around this.

 

I work for a company that is very anal about IT security. Previously this wasn't a problem but since I've been working at home since March 2020, printing has become an issue. Since I am not permitted to go into the office, I can't print to the networked printers there. Well, technically I can but I wont be able to retrieve my prints until they reopen the offices (whenever that will be) and that kinda defeats the point of printing something.

 

I therefore decided to buy my own printer - just something basic. I went for a Brother HL-1112. I was very happy when it arrived and promptly plugged it into my personal PC and tried it out. But the problem came when I tried to print from my work laptop. The problem is that the printer requires a driver. On the face of it, that wouldn't be a problem. However, since my company lives in the dark ages when it comes to IT policies, when I rang the IT support line and asked them to install the driver, they simply told me that it was "against company policy" and that I could either print to a networked printer in the office (not useful as I explained before) or to buy another printer that works with the built-in windows driver (for which there is no list and which would require me to just 'lucky dip' printers until one works at my own expense). I'm therefore stuck, still unable to print.

 

Since there is no method by which I can transfer the files to my personal computer for printing without risking being fired (yep - that serious), I'm now reaching out to you guys in the hope that you can help me find a workaround that will get my printer working with my work laptop.

 

One more thing that's worth noting that has been implied but not stated - I'm unable to install basically anything onto my work laptop. It's simply not permitted.

 

Anyone think of any way to get this to work?

 

Cheers!

 

Rob

[Skiiwee29]

As strict as they are, its there for good reason. We don't help circumvent or get around security measures put in place for a reason. 

[GDRRiley]

if they let it connect to your local network and find other PC you can just get the driver installed on another machine and have windows share it to the network.
We aren't about by passing security, I'd reach out to IT and ask them to provide you with one if you need a printer.

[Draelren]

The best bet would be to just find a printer that works with the windows driver, as IT specified. 

The policy is in place for a reason, and it's not worth the risk trying to 'get around security' and doing something that could potentially bring penalties upon yourself for the very act of trying to get around what is in place.

[WereCatf]

28 minutes ago, RobV1306 said:

Anyone think of any way to get this to work?

Personally, I think you are approaching this from the wrong angle to begin with. It's your IT-department's job to handle the technical side and if they are refusing to install a printer-driver, then it's their job to provide you with a printer that does work with their policies. If they refuse, they are not doing their jobs and you should contact your superior.

 

At the moment, you are taking all this responsibility on yourself -- including any delays that may result from you not being able to print. Taking on the responsibility and blame that doesn't belong to you isn't the smartest thing to do.

[RobV1306]

Ok. Thanks for the help guys.

 

While I understand your sentiment, this might be a case of "you've got to know them to understand". It's an outsourced IT support with little understanding (or care for that matter) about why they're doing what they're doing. They are simply blindly following orders and are not empowered to challenge them when blatantly wrong. It's not that this is a well thought through and reasoned policy, they just never thought of it and now can't be bothered to make necessary changes.

 

I completely understand that they cannot simply allow anyone to install anything on their work PC but it simply doesn't make any sense not to help with a very simple printer driver from a trusted manufacturer. IMO, they simply CBA.

 

Thanks again though. I think I'm against a brick wall and there's no point in even pursuing this any more.

[Neumann_Joe]

Not sure if this will help. But if you go to add a local printer. Once you select the port (most likely USB) you should see a list of all the local drivers for printers by manufacturer. You might be able to figure out which printers would work. Even if the driver isn't listed doesn't mean it wont work, for example where I work we get HP officejet pro 8100 or 8210 printers since they are approved. We can't install the driver from the CD as we don't have onsite IT admins so we figured out we could use a 8000 series driver that happens to work and is locally on the machine for newer printers as well.

[RobV1306]

That's super helpful. I hadn't thought of that. I'll give that a go tomorrow and see if it works. Thanks Joe!

[Exidor]

Ok maybe I am missing something here.....

If you can connect to a network and I presume you are using your home WiFI?

Cant you connect your printer to your router and run it as a printer server? As far as I know you dont need drivers for that?

https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/415/

I think if you set up a print server it should just work?

https://smallbusiness.chron.com/use-router-make-printer-wireless-printer-56526.html

I think depending on the router you might not need drivers.

 

But as others have stated you should really contact your superior. It is his problem also.

 

 

Edit:

Ok seems it is very difficult to set up a print job on a rooter a normal print server requires drivers on the client side. My bad.

But as suggested you could try installing generic drivers from the windows included list they should probably work if they are for a similar model.

[RobV1306]

Yeah, unfortunately, they also have the systems set up to only use the VPN. I cannot see anything of my home wifi network at all. And if I disconnect from the VPN, it's as if I'm not connected to a network at all.

 

Regards the drivers, this is something I am interested in. When I plugged it into my work pc for the first time, it simply came up and said "I cant use this, you need a driver" or something to that effect. Is there a way of forcing it to use the generic driver in an attempt to at least get some use out of it? Also, please bear in mind when answering this question that if any part of the answer is "open device manager" etc then there's almost 100% chance I will not be able to do it.

[j.son19]

On 1/6/2021 at 4:57 PM, Neumann_Joe said:

Even if the driver isn't listed doesn't mean it wont work, for example where I work we get HP officejet pro 8100 or 8210 printers since they are approved

yeah at my home I have a HP deskjet and If I recall correctly the setup up was connect the printer to the network via WPS then download HP smart (only for scanning things) so the last part isn't necesarry for barebones printer and photocopying.

[Exidor]

3 hours ago, RobV1306 said:

Yeah, unfortunately, they also have the systems set up to only use the VPN. I cannot see anything of my home wifi network at all. And if I disconnect from the VPN, it's as if I'm not connected to a network at all.

 

Regards the drivers, this is something I am interested in. When I plugged it into my work pc for the first time, it simply came up and said "I cant use this, you need a driver" or something to that effect. Is there a way of forcing it to use the generic driver in an attempt to at least get some use out of it? Also, please bear in mind when answering this question that if any part of the answer is "open device manager" etc then there's almost 100% chance I will not be able to do it.

 

Yea I have no clue how to do that without the device manager.

Maybe some one who knows scripting knows how to do that from command prompt? Harder to lock down and by the looks of it your IT department is not the brightest

[RobV1306]

Glad to see someone who has the same opinion on my IT department as I do.