Systems and methods of implementing universal print drivers in a windows print architecture

A method of implementing a universal print driver in the Windows® V4 print architecture is provided. The method includes monitoring an event log to detect one or more trigger events relating to a printer instance of a connected printing device; upon detection of a trigger event, scheduled poll interval expiration, and/or an on-demand request, comparing a print driver currently associated with the printer instance to an actual model of the connected printing device and determining whether the print driver needs to be switched from an old printing device model to the connected printing device model. If the print driver needs to be switched, then mapping data is used to automatically look up a name of a printing device model entry corresponding to the connected printing device model in an INF file, among other things.