Getting back the OneNote 2010 Printer by Installing a generic printer driver, and then configure it for Microsoft Office OneNote 2010

So we had a few users delete their OneNote printer from the Printers List in Windows.  OneNote is a great program and is bolstered by the use of the printer allowing you to push pretty much anything into OneNote. We ran an office repair but the printer didn’t actually return for our users, so I started looking at how the OneNote printer is configured and created a new instance of the printer.  The following is basically a walk through of installing and configuring a local printer for OneNote 2010 (also applies to OneNote 2007).

First off we need to install the generic printer driver in Windows. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Click Start, type printers in the Start Search box, and then click Devices and Printers in the Programs list.
  2. On the left side of the page near the top, click Add a printer.
  3. In the Add Printer dialog box, click Add a local printer.
  4. Click to select the Use an existing port option, select the appropriate port, and then click Next. For example, you can select LPT1.
  5. Under Manufacturer, select Generic, select Generic / Text Only under Printers, and then click Next.
  6. If you receive a message about drivers, click to select the Use the driver that is currently installed (recommended) option, and then click Next:
  7. Click Next, and then click Finish.

So now how do we go about configuring this newly installed generic printer for use with OneNote, follow these instructions for doing that:

  1. In the printer list, right-click the Generic / Text only printer, and then click Printer Properties.
  2. Click the Ports tab, and then click to select the Send To Microsoft OneNote Port check box.
  3. Click the Advanced Tab, select Send to Microsoft OneNote Driver in the Driver list, and then click Print Processor.
  4. Under Print processor, select winprint, select RAW under Default data type, and then click OK.
  5. Click the General tab, change the name of the printer to Send To OneNote 2010, and then click OK.

And now we can finally use the printer to submit pretty much anything to OneNote 2010.  We didn’t really learn why the Office repair didn’t re-add the printer as the research we found on the internet led us to believe that it would add the printer, but just in case it doesn’t you now know how to manually add it.

30 thoughts to “Getting back the OneNote 2010 Printer by Installing a generic printer driver, and then configure it for Microsoft Office OneNote 2010”

  1. I have a problem with OneNote 2010. Every time I try to “send to OneNote” a notice comes up saying OneNote needs to shutdown. I am running xp pro with all the sevice packs. OneNote2007 works like a dream.

    Any ideas, Thanks Ken

    1. Hi Ken. Unfortunately we no longer run XP in our SoEs so I am unable to take a look at that particular configuration.

      Only thing I can think of is to check over the printer settings to make sure you are outputting to the correct format required by the driver. You can also perform a repair of Office 2010 just in-case it is a OneNote issue.

  2. The generic printer installed smoothly but there was no option to Send To MS OneNote Driver as described in step 3 of part 2. The new generic printer, renamed for OneNote appears under Printers and Devices, but I am still unable to print to onenote. I’ve run Install New Drivers, but OneNote remains MIA. Please help.

    1. So when you right click on the printer, select Printer Properties, go to the Advanced Tab and under the Driver drop-down selection box. OneNote does not appear?

      What OS are you running. 32/64 bit os? and Office?

  3. Correct, the OneNote drive is completely missing.
    I’m running 64 bit os and MS Office 2010.

  4. Didn’t work for me. For some reason, when I selected “Print to OneNote 2010”, my default Brother printer started printing …

    What did I do wrong?

    1. Check to see what Port you have set for the OneNote printer and that it doesn’t conflict with any other installed printer.

  5. So, so many websites and blogs say it is not possible to send to OneNote 2010 esp with a 64 bit system. Thanks to John for blowing such junk comments out of the water with this simple fix.

  6. I have a similar situation with my HP laptop. I’m running Office 2010 , 64 bit os. One Note works but I have no driver for the Send to One Note . My older Dell desktop includes the driver. How does one download the driver to the HP is now my question.

  7. I couldn’t print to OneNote 2010 and tried repairing several times, even using the disk, but it didn’t fix anything. Then I tried installing a generic printer, but there is no option for “Print to OneNote” anywhere. My OS is Windows 7 64 bit. Now what?

  8. I have the same problem as EugeniaE – the Send to OneNote 2010 option is completely missing. This is even after a complete uninstall & reinstall. My company’s helpdesk is stumped too (that’s not too hard, really, but still).

    My system is 32 bit windows 7 Professional with Office Standard 2010.

  9. Except I don’t have the following option:

    2. Click the Ports tab, and then click to select the Send To Microsoft OneNote Port check box.

  10. When I get to the Ports tab, there is no “Send to Microsoft OneNote Port” checkbox.

    In a similar way, there is no “Send to Microsoft OneNote Driver” in the Drivers list.

    How do I fix this problem? I have Windows 7.

  11. When I right click on the printer, select Printer Properties, go to the Advanced Tab and under the Driver drop-down selection box. OneNote does not appear! I have the Windows 7 Enterprise 64 bit OS and MS Office 2010.

  12. Fix for Office 2010 32Bit OneNote Printer issue
    The issue is it needs the Microsoft XPS Document Write printer installed before installing office.
    There are two things you need to do Install the the XPS Printer Driver and then Re install Office 2010

    Please this could fix the 64 Bit version but not sure.
    1. Step 1 – Install XPS Printer

    1. click on “Start (push button)” in “Start”
    2. click on “Devices and Printers (menu item)” in “Start menu”
    3. click on “Add a printer (push button)” in “Devices and Printers
    4. click on “Add a local printer (push button)” in “Add Printer”
    5. click in “Add Printer”
    6. On the Use and Existing port click on the pull down menu and select “XPSPort: (Local Port) (list item)”
    7. Scroll down the Manufacturer list to “Microsoft ” in “Add Printer”
    8. Scroll down the Printers list to”Microsoft XPS Document Writer” in “Add Printer”
    9. click on “Next (push button)” in “Add Printer”
    10. click on “Use the driver that is currently installed (recommended) (radio button)” in “Add Printer”
    11. click on “Next (push button) two times” in “Add Printer”
    12. click on “Do not share this printer (radio button)” in “Add Printer”
    13. click on “Next (push button)” in “Add Printer”
    14. click on “untick the box Set as the default printer (check box)” in “Add Printer”
    15. click on “Finish (push button)” in “Add Printer”

    2. Step 2 Reinstall Office 2010
    16. click on “Start (push button)” in “Start”
    17. click on “Control Panel (menu item)” in “Start menu”
    18. click on “Programs and Features (link)” in “All Control Panel Items”
    19. click on “Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010 (list item)” in “Programs and Features”
    20. click on “Change (push button)” in “Programs and Features”
    21. click on “Repair (radio button)” in “Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010”
    22. click on “Continue (push button)” in “Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010”
    23. click on “Close (push button)” in “Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2010”
    24. click on “In order to complete setup, a system reboot is necessary. Would you like to reboot now? (text)” in “Setup”
    Once the machine has rebooted the OneNote Printer Driver will be installed.

  13. I am having a problem just installed a wireless printer.. it goes to print then i get a error that says…Before you can use this feature..one note must start for the first time.You can return here and try again after one note starts. Help!!!

  14. I am having the same problem. I am running Office 2007. Have followed instructions to install printer, however at the Ports tab and Advanced Tab there is no driver listed for OneNote. Not sure what I am missing……

  15. To C.Rash – it sounds like you you are set to a limited user account. you will need to be a local Administrator to do this task. 64 Bit will be the same process.

  16. I have tried the above steps and still not OneNote driver or port gets created. With reinstall or repair of office 2010. Running win 7 64 bit. Is there anyway to install the driver and port manually? I can’t find any .inf file to install the driver

  17. I did the Microsoft Office repair routine but it seems that I had to make the OneNote the default printer. That would have been a pain in the neck. Using the generic printer worked like a charm. Thanks.

    Now if I could only get my clipper to work.

  18. I had the same problem on a 64 bit laptop. Tried installing per above instructions and could not get it to work. Discovered that when I am inside a document that I wish to print to OneNote, if I right click anywhere inside the document, I still see an option to “send to” OneNote even though OneNote is no longer in my printers options. I use that feature to “print to” OneNote and it works just like it used to when OneNote was one of my “printers”. I hope this helps.

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