If you wish to change the default printer on a users Windows box via a script, defprint is what you need. Stuart Anderson wrote this fine piece of freeware; however, the site referenced in the file is not available. We put a copy up on NetAdminTools here. Use defprint /P to list your printers:

C:>defprint /P
Found 4 printers
PrinterName: mondohplaser
ServerName: (null)
PortName: mondohplaser
DriverName: HP LaserJet 1200 Series PCL
PrintProcessor: WinPrint
ShareName: (null)
PrinterName: hpdj
ServerName: (null)
PortName: LPT1:
DriverName: HP DeskJet 672C
PrintProcessor: WinPrint
ShareName: (null)
PrinterName: Generic / Text Only
ServerName: (null)
PortName: FILE:
DriverName: Generic / Text Only
PrintProcessor: WinPrint
ShareName: (null)
PrinterName: Fax
ServerName: (null)
PortName: SHRFAX:
DriverName: Microsoft Shared Fax Driver
PrintProcessor: WinPrint
ShareName: (null)
C:>

Use defprint /D to set the default printer:

C:>defprint /D mondohplaser
Found 4 printers
Changing default printer...
C:>defprint /D LPT1:
Found 4 printers
Changing default printer...
C:>

We tested this on XP, and since this utility was written back in ’98, we’d guess it will work on a wide variety of systems. One application that this is good for is if a rogue app changes the default printer. Just change the way the user starts the rogue app by using a batch file with the last line as a defprint command that switches the default printer back. Likewise, if certain applications should print by default to, say, a check printer, you could use the same technique, only put a line in the beginning and the end of the batch file.