How can Windows be configured NOT to group several printers under one printer – shown as one item in Printers and Faxes in Control Panel\Hardware and Sound\Devices and Printers?
Background
Reason for question:
I am using a label editing program that stores the printer model in the label file. I need to support several printers to print the label so I create a file for each printer. However, I only have one printer model at my desk and I just need to test print the labels for all models on this printer even though I don't have all of the models on my desk. But I can't get the label to print, so I suspect it is something to do with how the printers are being grouped.
My colleagues' machines have the same setup and they can print successfully all labels, but on their machines, Windows 7 does not group the printers under one item, each different printer model is shown as a separate item.
Research
I have tried looking here but no conclusive solution:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itproui/thread/cf1148ac-17f0-4783-9aa9-34216377b597
Best Answer
You will have to create a new port with the printer settings, but make sure the port name is different. If the port names are the same it will group them, changing the port name will solve your issue.