• Devices and Printer Settings

    From T@T@invalid.invalid to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Thu Jan 22 11:54:16 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    Hi All,

    W11 25H2

    Anyone know how I can run

    "control panel\All Control Panel Items\Devices and Printers"

    from the command line?

    Yours in Confusion,
    -T
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Andy Burns@usenet@andyburns.uk to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Thu Jan 22 20:18:16 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    T wrote:

    Anyone know how I can run

         "control panel\All Control Panel Items\Devices and Printers"

    from the command line?
    maybe
    explorer "shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}"
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From T@T@invalid.invalid to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Thu Jan 22 12:20:50 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    On 1/22/26 12:18 PM, Andy Burns wrote:
    T wrote:

    Anyone know how I can run

          "control panel\All Control Panel Items\Devices and Printers"

    from the command line?
    maybe
    explorer "shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}"

    That is missing the tool bar at the top with add new etc.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Paul@nospam@needed.invalid to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Thu Jan 22 15:30:53 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    On Thu, 1/22/2026 2:54 PM, T wrote:
    Hi All,

    W11 25H2

    Anyone know how I can run

         "control panel\All Control Panel Items\Devices and Printers"

    from the command line?

    Yours in Confusion,
    -T

    I don't think there is a .msc or a .cpt for that, so it might
    be a job for a URI.

    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/develop/launch/launch-settings

    explorer ms-settings:devices
    explorer ms-settings:connecteddevices

    Just a guess.
    Paul

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From VanguardLH@V@nguard.LH to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Thu Jan 22 14:36:49 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    T <T@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    W11 25H2

    Anyone know how I can run

    "control panel\All Control Panel Items\Devices and Printers"

    from the command line?

    Maybe use the old-style Control Panel shortcut of:

    rundll32.exe shell32.dll,SHHelpShortcuts_RunDLL PrintersFolder

    or

    shell:printersfolder
    (in File Explorer address bar,
    or a shortcut to "explore.exe shell:printersfolder")

    Andy gave the shell directive with Class ID to open the Control Panel
    page. You can enter that into the address bar of File Explorer, in the
    Run Dialog (Win+R), or use a shortcut to run:

    explorer.exe shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}

    In Powershell, use:

    Start-Process -FilePath “control.exe” -ArgumentList “printers”
    or
    Start-Process "explorer.exe" "shell:PrintersFolder"

    Those work in Windows 10, and probably in Windows 11, too.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From VanguardLH@V@nguard.LH to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Thu Jan 22 14:41:16 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    T <T@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    Andy Burns wrote:

    T wrote:

    Anyone know how I can run

          "control panel\All Control Panel Items\Devices and Printers"

    from the command line?

    maybe
    explorer "shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}"

    That is missing the tool bar at the top with add new etc.

    In Windows 10, when I run control.exe, click on "Devices and Printers",
    that dialog does not show a "New" button. It does have "Add a device"
    and "Add a printer" buttons, or use the File menu to add devices or
    printers. Maybe they changed the UI for the dialog in Windows 11. When
    you navigate Control Panel (control.exe) to "Devices and Printers", you
    see a "New" button?
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From T@T@invalid.invalid to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Thu Jan 22 13:42:34 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    On 1/22/26 12:30 PM, Paul wrote:
    explorer ms-settings:devices

    That just opens the stinking idiot W11 setting printers dialog.
    I can't get to printers and devices unless a printer is
    So just pick one and scroll down to other options.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Paul@nospam@needed.invalid to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Thu Jan 22 20:20:37 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    On Thu, 1/22/2026 3:36 PM, VanguardLH wrote:
    T <T@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    W11 25H2

    Anyone know how I can run

    "control panel\All Control Panel Items\Devices and Printers"

    from the command line?

    Maybe use the old-style Control Panel shortcut of:

    rundll32.exe shell32.dll,SHHelpShortcuts_RunDLL PrintersFolder

    or

    shell:printersfolder
    (in File Explorer address bar,
    or a shortcut to "explore.exe shell:printersfolder")

    Andy gave the shell directive with Class ID to open the Control Panel
    page. You can enter that into the address bar of File Explorer, in the
    Run Dialog (Win+R), or use a shortcut to run:

    explorer.exe shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}

    In Powershell, use:

    Start-Process -FilePath “control.exe” -ArgumentList “printers”
    or
    Start-Process "explorer.exe" "shell:PrintersFolder"

    Those work in Windows 10, and probably in Windows 11, too.


    With your

    explorer shell:printersfolder

    if you right click in that window, there
    is an Add Printer in there.

    Paul

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From T@T@invalid.invalid to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Thu Jan 22 17:55:30 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    On 1/22/26 5:20 PM, Paul wrote:
    On Thu, 1/22/2026 3:36 PM, VanguardLH wrote:
    T <T@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    W11 25H2

    Anyone know how I can run

    "control panel\All Control Panel Items\Devices and Printers"

    from the command line?

    Maybe use the old-style Control Panel shortcut of:

    rundll32.exe shell32.dll,SHHelpShortcuts_RunDLL PrintersFolder

    or

    shell:printersfolder
    (in File Explorer address bar,
    or a shortcut to "explore.exe shell:printersfolder")

    Andy gave the shell directive with Class ID to open the Control Panel
    page. You can enter that into the address bar of File Explorer, in the
    Run Dialog (Win+R), or use a shortcut to run:

    explorer.exe shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}

    In Powershell, use:

    Start-Process -FilePath “control.exe” -ArgumentList “printers”
    or
    Start-Process "explorer.exe" "shell:PrintersFolder"

    Those work in Windows 10, and probably in Windows 11, too.


    With your

    explorer shell:printersfolder

    if you right click in that window, there
    is an Add Printer in there.

    Paul



    Perfect. Thank you!
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From =?UTF-8?B?Li4ud8Khw7HCp8KxwqTDsSA=?=@winstonmvp@gmail.com to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Fri Jan 23 00:01:20 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    VanguardLH wrote on 1/22/2026 1:41 PM:
    T <T@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    Andy Burns wrote:

    T wrote:

    Anyone know how I can run

          "control panel\All Control Panel Items\Devices and Printers" >>>>
    from the command line?

    maybe
    explorer "shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}"

    That is missing the tool bar at the top with add new etc.

    In Windows 10, when I run control.exe, click on "Devices and Printers",
    that dialog does not show a "New" button. It does have "Add a device"
    and "Add a printer" buttons, or use the File menu to add devices or
    printers. Maybe they changed the UI for the dialog in Windows 11. When
    you navigate Control Panel (control.exe) to "Devices and Printers", you
    see a "New" button?


    Different routes(to Devices and Printers in Win11) provide different
    results.
    - Note: below I'm abbreviating 'Devices and Printers' term in the
    comments about the linked picture as DevPrt
    -

    See linked pic.
    <https://i.postimg.cc/90CqZw3R/Dev-Prt-Both.jpg>

    - The left side pic is the result when accessing DevPrt via two routes in Win11's. both routes(1 and 2) yield the same dialog box.
    1. Settings\Bluetooth and Devices\Devices\More devices and printer
    2. Control Panel shortcut\Bluetooth and Devices\Devices\More devices
    and printers
    - The right side pic is the result when accessing DevPrt in Win11 via the earlier mentioned 'explorer shell' route.

    - The left side pic via (1 or 2) does not have the 'greyed out new' icon
    but does have the usual options(Add device, Add printer)
    - The right side pic via command.com (as admin) route has the 'New'
    icon(which is inactive/greyed out).

    You'll also notices some other differences
    - the left side pic shows a square icon(More Options for sizing the respective icons).
    - the right side pic shows more greyed-out icons, plus Sort, View(same
    icon sizing items), and an ellipsis(3 dots) for a few File Explorer-type features.

    You can make your own guesses on why the differences.
    - shell command vs. settings?
    - old code vs. newer code?
    - never intended to be the same via command vs Settings
    - more Win10/11 migration to Settings GUI
    - Hoodoo magic
    --
    ...w¡ñ§±¤ñ
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From T@T@invalid.invalid to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Sat Jan 24 21:28:50 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    On 1/22/26 11:01 PM, ...w¡ñ§±¤ñ wrote:
    VanguardLH wrote on 1/22/2026 1:41 PM:
    T <T@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    Andy Burns wrote:

    T wrote:

    Anyone know how I can run

           "control panel\All Control Panel Items\Devices and Printers" >>>>>
    from the command line?

    maybe
    explorer "shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}"

    That is missing the tool bar at the top with add new etc.

    In Windows 10, when I run control.exe, click on "Devices and Printers",
    that dialog does not show a "New" button.  It does have "Add a device"
    and "Add a printer" buttons, or use the File menu to add devices or
    printers.  Maybe they changed the UI for the dialog in Windows 11.  When >> you navigate Control Panel (control.exe) to "Devices and Printers", you
    see a "New" button?


    Different routes(to Devices and Printers in Win11) provide different results.
     - Note: below I'm abbreviating 'Devices and Printers' term in the comments about the linked picture as DevPrt
     -

    See linked pic.
    <https://i.postimg.cc/90CqZw3R/Dev-Prt-Both.jpg>

    - The left side pic is the result when accessing DevPrt via two routes
    in Win11's. both routes(1 and 2) yield the same dialog box.
     1. Settings\Bluetooth and Devices\Devices\More devices and printer
     2. Control Panel shortcut\Bluetooth and Devices\Devices\More devices
    and printers
    - The right side pic is the result when accessing DevPrt in Win11 via
    the earlier mentioned 'explorer shell' route.

    - The left side pic via (1 or 2) does not have the 'greyed out new' icon
    but does have the usual options(Add device, Add printer)
    - The right side pic via command.com (as admin) route has the 'New' icon(which is inactive/greyed out).

    You'll also notices some other differences
     - the left side pic shows a square icon(More Options for sizing the respective icons).
     - the right side pic shows more greyed-out icons, plus Sort, View(same icon sizing items), and an ellipsis(3 dots) for a few File Explorer-type features.

    You can make your own guesses on why the differences.
     - shell command vs. settings?
     - old code vs. newer code?
     - never intended to be the same via command vs Settings
     - more Win10/11 migration to Settings GUI
     - Hoodoo magic


    OpenShell's "Devices and Printers" gets me the one I want.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From T@T@invalid.invalid to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Sat Jan 24 22:22:45 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    On 1/24/26 9:28 PM, T wrote:

    OpenShell's "Devices and Printers" gets me the one I want.

    Now how to get it from the command line.

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From =?UTF-8?B?Li4ud8Khw7HCp8KxwqTDsSA=?=@winstonmvp@gmail.com to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Sat Jan 24 23:26:29 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    T wrote on 1/24/2026 10:28 PM:
    On 1/22/26 11:01 PM, ...w¡ñ§±¤ñ wrote:
    VanguardLH wrote on 1/22/2026 1:41 PM:
    T <T@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    Andy Burns wrote:

    T wrote:

    Anyone know how I can run

           "control panel\All Control Panel Items\Devices and Printers"

    from the command line?

    maybe
    explorer "shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}"

    That is missing the tool bar at the top with add new etc.

    In Windows 10, when I run control.exe, click on "Devices and Printers",
    that dialog does not show a "New" button.  It does have "Add a device"
    and "Add a printer" buttons, or use the File menu to add devices or
    printers.  Maybe they changed the UI for the dialog in Windows 11.  When >>> you navigate Control Panel (control.exe) to "Devices and Printers", you
    see a "New" button?


    Different routes(to Devices and Printers in Win11) provide different
    results.
      - Note: below I'm abbreviating 'Devices and Printers' term in the
    comments about the linked picture as DevPrt
      -

    See linked pic.
    <https://i.postimg.cc/90CqZw3R/Dev-Prt-Both.jpg>

    - The left side pic is the result when accessing DevPrt via two routes
    in Win11's. both routes(1 and 2) yield the same dialog box.
      1. Settings\Bluetooth and Devices\Devices\More devices and printer
      2. Control Panel shortcut\Bluetooth and Devices\Devices\More devices
    and printers
    - The right side pic is the result when accessing DevPrt in Win11 via
    the earlier mentioned 'explorer shell' route.

    - The left side pic via (1 or 2) does not have the 'greyed out new'
    icon but does have the usual options(Add device, Add printer)
    - The right side pic via command.com (as admin) route has the 'New'
    icon(which is inactive/greyed out).

    You'll also notices some other differences
      - the left side pic shows a square icon(More Options for sizing the
    respective icons).
      - the right side pic shows more greyed-out icons, plus Sort,
    View(same icon sizing items), and an ellipsis(3 dots) for a few File
    Explorer-type features.

    You can make your own guesses on why the differences.
      - shell command vs. settings?
      - old code vs. newer code?
      - never intended to be the same via command vs Settings
      - more Win10/11 migration to Settings GUI
      - Hoodoo magic


    OpenShell's "Devices and Printers" gets me the one I want.

    If that works then fine(glad it gets you what you want)...but that wasn't related to the differences in the two approaches I provided.
    -i.e. those two methods with different results is just 'wiz-ee-wig'

    Even Windows 7 old GUI did not have a 'New' option for Devices and Printers(only Add Device, Add Printer) just like the optional control panel-like GUI accessible in W10/W11.
    - the 'New' button/icon that you see/saw is not a device 'add' option,
    it's an Explorer option(and only present because Explorer was called via
    a shell command in a command.com or powershell window) - only giving you
    what it could give.
    --
    ...w¡ñ§±¤ñ
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From T@T@invalid.invalid to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Sun Jan 25 00:18:38 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    On 1/24/26 10:26 PM, ...w¡ñ§±¤ñ wrote:
    T wrote on 1/24/2026 10:28 PM:
    On 1/22/26 11:01 PM, ...w¡ñ§±¤ñ wrote:
    VanguardLH wrote on 1/22/2026 1:41 PM:
    T <T@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    Andy Burns wrote:

    T wrote:

    Anyone know how I can run

           "control panel\All Control Panel Items\Devices and Printers"

    from the command line?

    maybe
    explorer "shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}"

    That is missing the tool bar at the top with add new etc.

    In Windows 10, when I run control.exe, click on "Devices and Printers", >>>> that dialog does not show a "New" button.  It does have "Add a device" >>>> and "Add a printer" buttons, or use the File menu to add devices or
    printers.  Maybe they changed the UI for the dialog in Windows 11.
    When
    you navigate Control Panel (control.exe) to "Devices and Printers", you >>>> see a "New" button?


    Different routes(to Devices and Printers in Win11) provide different
    results.
      - Note: below I'm abbreviating 'Devices and Printers' term in the
    comments about the linked picture as DevPrt
      -

    See linked pic.
    <https://i.postimg.cc/90CqZw3R/Dev-Prt-Both.jpg>

    - The left side pic is the result when accessing DevPrt via two
    routes in Win11's. both routes(1 and 2) yield the same dialog box.
      1. Settings\Bluetooth and Devices\Devices\More devices and printer
      2. Control Panel shortcut\Bluetooth and Devices\Devices\More
    devices and printers
    - The right side pic is the result when accessing DevPrt in Win11 via
    the earlier mentioned 'explorer shell' route.

    - The left side pic via (1 or 2) does not have the 'greyed out new'
    icon but does have the usual options(Add device, Add printer)
    - The right side pic via command.com (as admin) route has the 'New'
    icon(which is inactive/greyed out).

    You'll also notices some other differences
      - the left side pic shows a square icon(More Options for sizing the >>> respective icons).
      - the right side pic shows more greyed-out icons, plus Sort,
    View(same icon sizing items), and an ellipsis(3 dots) for a few File
    Explorer-type features.

    You can make your own guesses on why the differences.
      - shell command vs. settings?
      - old code vs. newer code?
      - never intended to be the same via command vs Settings
      - more Win10/11 migration to Settings GUI
      - Hoodoo magic


    OpenShell's "Devices and Printers" gets me the one I want.

    If that works then fine(glad it gets you what you want)...but that
    wasn't related to the differences in the two approaches I provided.
     -i.e. those two methods with different results is just  'wiz-ee-wig'

    Even Windows 7 old GUI did not have a 'New' option for Devices and Printers(only Add Device, Add Printer) just like the optional control panel-like GUI accessible in W10/W11.
     - the 'New' button/icon that you see/saw is not a device 'add' option, it's an Explorer option(and only present because Explorer was called via
    a shell command in a command.com or powershell window) - only giving you what it could give.



    I am after how to do it from the command line. If it
    was in your response, I missed it.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Andy Burns@usenet@andyburns.uk to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Sun Jan 25 08:29:45 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    T wrote:

    I am after how to do it from the command line.

    Slightly puzzled why you want to use the command line to invoke the
    printer GUI?

    For most people adding a new printer is something done once every few
    years, not several times a day!
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From T@T@invalid.invalid to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Sun Jan 25 00:45:41 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    On 1/25/26 12:29 AM, Andy Burns wrote:
    T wrote:

    I am after how to do it from the command line.

    Slightly puzzled why you want to use the command line to invoke the
    printer GUI?

    For most people adding a new printer is something done once every few
    years, not several times a day!


    You are forgetting that I have a lot of
    customers. Installing printers is a
    common task. W11 and printers is a match
    made in ...

    I have a list of run commands that I use, instead of
    screwing around going through w7/w10/w11 ever changing
    GUI's. Getting to Printers and Devices is still eluding me.

    Paul's suggestion is close. But I'd like the whole potato
    that OpenShell gives me.


    List of MSC (MicroSoft Connector) and CPL (Control Panel) commands:

    Also see:
    ../MyCDs/Keepers/Windows/Rundll32.Commands.html
    Reference(s):

    https://winaero.com/windows-11-control-panel-commands-to-open-applets-directly/

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/77458-rundll32-commands-list-windows-10-a.html


    Favorites:
    appwiz.cpl Programs and Feature from the Control Panel
    gpedit.msc General Policy Editor
    W10: printmanagement.msc Print Manager
    control printers
    W11: explorer shell:printersfolder (Rt Click,
    Add Printer)
    ncpa.cpl Network Connections
    secpol.msc Local Security Policy
    sysdm.cpl System Properties from Contol Panel and
    Computer icon
    Computer name, remote assistance, etc.

    C:\Windows\System32\SystemPropertiesRemote.exe Computer's System Properties


    General msc:
    azman.msc Authorization Manager
    certmgr.msc Certificates (Manager)
    comexp.msc Component Services
    compmgmt.msc Computer management (manage from Computer context menu)
    control admintools Administrative Tools (Windows Tools in W11)
    control printers Devices and Printers
    devmgmt.msc Device Manager
    diskmgmt.msc Disk Management
    eventvwr.msc Event Viewer
    fsmgmt.msc Shared Folders
    gpedit.msc General Policy Editor (pro only)
    lusrmgr.msc Local Users and Groups manager (pro only)
    ms-settings:display Display Manager (W11)
    msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic Hardware and device troubleshooter
    NAPCLCFG.MSC NAP Client Configuration
    perfmon.msc Performance Monitor
    W10: printmanagement.msc Print Manager
    also see: control printers
    W11: explorer.exe shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}
    rsop.msc Resultant Set of Policy
    secpol.msc Local Security Policy (pro only)
    services.msc Sevices Manager
    sysdm.cpl System failure, startup, and recovery
    taskschd.msc Task Schedular
    tpm.msc Trusted Platform Module Management
    WF.msc Windows Firewall with Advanced Security
    WmiMgmt.msc Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)
    console


    General cpl:
    appwiz.cpl Programs and Feature from the Control Panel
    bthprops.cpl unknown
    collab.cpl People near me
    desk.cpl Screen Resolution
    Firewall.cpl Windows Firewall from the Control Panel
    hdwwiz.cpl Device Manager
    inetcpl.cpl Internet Properties from the Control Panel
    infocardcpl.cpl unknown
    intl.cpl Region and Language
    irprops.cpl unknown
    joy.cpl Game Controller (Joy Stick, etc.)
    main.cpl Mouse Properties from the Control Panel
    mmsys.cpl Sound from the Control Panel
    ncpa.cpl Network Connections
    powercfg.cpl Power Options
    SendToToys.cpl Send to Toys
    sysdm.cpl System Properties from Contol Panel and
    Computer icon
    TabletPC.cpl Pen and Touch
    telephon.cpl Location Information
    timedate.cpl Time and Date
    wscui.cpl Security Action Center

    ms-settings:
    ms-settings:windowsupdate
    ms-settings:privacy-microphone

    Other:
    control printers Devices and printers
    control.exe /name Microsoft.NetworkAndSharingCenter Network and Sharing Center
    perfmon.exe /res Resource Monitor
    TaskMgr Task Manager
    wuapp Windows Update applet (not in Windows 10, 11)
    control /name Microsoft.WindowsUpdate W10/11 Windows Update Applet
    optionalfeatures optionalfeatures from Programs and features
    rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL desk.cpl,,1 Screen
    Saver Settings


    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Andy Burns@usenet@andyburns.uk to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Sun Jan 25 09:08:32 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    T wrote:

    Andy Burns wrote:

    For most people adding a new printer is something done once every few
    years, not several times a day!

    You are forgetting that I have a lot of
    customers.  Installing printers is a
    common task.
    If you want a command line to directly launch the "add printer" wizard, try

    rundll32 printui.dll PrintUIEntry /id
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From T@T@invalid.invalid to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Sun Jan 25 02:12:29 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    On 1/25/26 1:08 AM, Andy Burns wrote:
    If you want a command line to directly launch the "add printer" wizard, try

    rundll32 printui.dll PrintUIEntry /id

    Thank you! I am adding that one to the list.

    I still need "devices and Printers"
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From T@T@invalid.invalid to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Sun Jan 25 02:39:48 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    On 1/25/26 2:12 AM, T wrote:
    On 1/25/26 1:08 AM, Andy Burns wrote:
    If you want a command line to directly launch the "add printer"
    wizard, try

    rundll32 printui.dll PrintUIEntry /id

    Thank you!  I am adding that one to the list.

    I still need "devices and Printers"


    This seems to work best:

    explorer.exe shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}

    It is not quite the same as OpenSell's Devices and Printers,
    but close
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Andy Burns@usenet@andyburns.uk to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Sun Jan 25 11:01:52 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    T wrote:
    On 1/25/26 1:08 AM, Andy Burns wrote:
    If you want a command line to directly launch the "add printer"
    wizard, try

    rundll32 printui.dll PrintUIEntry /id

    Thank you!  I am adding that one to the list.

    Other wizards available

    <https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/rundll32-printui>

    I still need "devices and Printers"

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Andy Burns@usenet@andyburns.uk to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Sun Jan 25 11:02:43 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    T wrote:
    On 1/25/26 2:12 AM, T wrote:
    On 1/25/26 1:08 AM, Andy Burns wrote:
    If you want a command line to directly launch the "add printer"
    wizard, try

    rundll32 printui.dll PrintUIEntry /id

    Thank you!  I am adding that one to the list.

    I still need "devices and Printers"


    This seems to work best:

    explorer.exe shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}

    It is not quite the same as OpenSell's Devices and Printers,
    but close

    Didn't we start with that one?
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From VanguardLH@V@nguard.LH to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Sun Jan 25 11:50:49 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    T <T@invalid.invalid> wrote:

    Andy Burns wrote:

    T wrote:

    I am after how to do it from the command line.

    Slightly puzzled why you want to use the command line to invoke the
    printer GUI?

    For most people adding a new printer is something done once every few
    years, not several times a day!

    You are forgetting that I have a lot of
    customers. Installing printers is a
    common task. W11 and printers is a match
    made in ...

    You'd need to carry a USB drive to have the command readily available to copy/paste the command line. Insert the USB drive, open File Explorer,
    open a .txt file, copy the command string, open a command shell, paste
    the command string, hit Enter. Or, press the Start button, enter
    "control", pick Control Panel, click on "Devices and Printers". Doesn't
    seem the command route is easier or faster. Also, either way you get
    there to show the dialog window, you still have to manually add, delete,
    or modify a printer setup. You could use AutoIt or AutoHotkey to
    automate a known and fixed routine to modify the printers, but you'd
    have to record the routine, it would have to be the same across all the
    hosts you maintain, and you'd need to install AutoIt or AutoHotkey on
    all those hosts, so, again, nothing saved, and instead a lot more work.

    These companies that you support don't have their employees share the
    same printer? I would think it would be cheaper to have a shared or
    networked printer than buy a printer to pair up with every workstation.
    Less setup, more efficient use, and less maintenance, too.

    I have a list of run commands that I use, instead of
    screwing around going through w7/w10/w11 ever changing
    GUI's. Getting to Printers and Devices is still eluding me.

    For now, the command line is consistent across Windows 7 to 11; however,
    the wizard's dialog window has apparently changed, so where you land
    doesn't necessarily look the same. In addition, the view mode may be different, like the user changed from details list, to large or small
    icons, or grouping (category), etc.

    Paul's suggestion is close. But I'd like the whole potato
    that OpenShell gives me.

    Paul expounded on my suggestion of using shell:printerfolder by noting
    there is and Add Printer function. I only tested that on Windows 10.
    You'd have to test on the Windows XP, 7, 8, Vista, and 11 hosts.

    All the hosts at all your employers have OpenShell installed?
    Considering all the reports of problems with it, you shouldn't be
    destabilizing your users' hosts. Plus, they get to rely on a particular
    GUI, but won't know how to use another workstation with the standard
    GUI. To me, alternate shells are for individual personalization, not
    something for company-wide deployment. I use Start11, but wouldn't if
    my workstation was a company asset.

    With all the replies, you should have what you asked for to get to the
    "Devices and Printers" dialog using a command line.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From T@T@invalid.invalid to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Sun Jan 25 15:52:23 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    On 1/25/26 3:02 AM, Andy Burns wrote:
    T wrote:
    On 1/25/26 2:12 AM, T wrote:
    On 1/25/26 1:08 AM, Andy Burns wrote:
    If you want a command line to directly launch the "add printer"
    wizard, try

    rundll32 printui.dll PrintUIEntry /id

    Thank you!  I am adding that one to the list.

    I still need "devices and Printers"


    This seems to work best:

    explorer.exe shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}

    It is not quite the same as OpenSell's Devices and Printers,
    but close

    Didn't we start with that one?


    Yes.

    I have since found out that is a C+++ system
    call that OpenShell uses.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From T@T@invalid.invalid to alt.comp.os.windows-11 on Sun Jan 25 17:19:32 2026
    From Newsgroup: alt.comp.os.windows-11

    On 1/25/26 3:52 PM, T wrote:
    On 1/25/26 3:02 AM, Andy Burns wrote:
    T wrote:
    On 1/25/26 2:12 AM, T wrote:
    On 1/25/26 1:08 AM, Andy Burns wrote:
    If you want a command line to directly launch the "add printer"
    wizard, try

    rundll32 printui.dll PrintUIEntry /id

    Thank you!  I am adding that one to the list.

    I still need "devices and Printers"


    This seems to work best:

    explorer.exe shell:::{A8A91A66-3A7D-4424-8D24-04E180695C7A}

    It is not quite the same as OpenSell's Devices and Printers,
    but close

    Didn't we start with that one?


    Yes.

    I have since found out that is a C+++ system
    call that OpenShell uses.


    The shell command was missing the toolbar with new
    and server properties. Paul told me how to work
    around the problem. They are in the right click
    context menu.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2