Unidrv and PostScript-based Drivers

Applies To: Windows Server 2003 with SP1

Unidrv and Postscript are the standard, well-tested core rendering engines included in Windows Server 2003. In addition, there is a core plotter driver in Windows Server 2003 which a few drivers use. All drivers included on the Windows Server 2003 CD are based on the PostScript, plotter or Unidrv-based drivers, the majority of which were written in conjunction with Independent Hardware Vendors (IHVs) and are also available on the IHVs independent Web sites. These full-featured drivers are supported by both Microsoft and the IHVs.

Because approximately 3,800 drivers based on Unidrv or PostScript are included on the Windows Server 2003 CD and have been thoroughly tested by Microsoft, the IHVs, and multiple customers, these core engines have been proven to be reliable and stable. Drivers based on these engines are less likely to have problems than those based on monolithic engines.

To determine whether a driver you have installed is using the Unidrv or Postscript rendering engines, do the following:

1. Click Start, and then choose Printers Folder.

2. Click File, and then click Server Properties.

3. Click the Drivers tab.

4. Select a driver, and then click Properties.

5. Look at the Driver File list box of in the Driver Properties dialog box. If UNIDRV.DLL or PSCRIPT5.DLL appears, the driver is using one of these rendering engines.