How to install a network printer
Wed, 04/30/2008 - 22:00 — Florin
In my previous tutorial, I have shown you how to install a local printer in Windows Vista. As promised, now I will show you how to install a network printer. As you can see, the procedure is very similar. The main difference consists in the fact that a network printer is not directly attached to your PC and you will need to know details such as: the name of the PC on which it is installed, the printer name and/or the IP address.
Click the Start button and go to Control Panel.
In the Control Panel window, in the Hardware and Sound group, click Printer.
In the Printers window, click Add a printer.
A new window appears, where you have to select “Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer”.
Windows Vista will now search through your network for printers and will list all the found items. Select the printer that you want to install and click Next. If Windows Vista hasn't listed the printer that you want to install, but you still know it exists, skip all the next steps and read the 'Network Printer not found' section.
In this next window you will see the name of the printer that will be installed. If you want, you can rename it, so that you can identify it much easier. When done, click Next.
Windows Vista will now install your network printer. At the end you will receive a notification. Click Finish and you are done.
Network Printer not found
If Windows Vista hasn't found the printer your were looking for, then click 'The printer that I want isn't listed'.
Here you have three options: browse for a printer, select a shared printer by name and add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname.
If you select the first option (browse for a printer) and click Next, Windows Vista will display all the computers that are currently running. Select the one that is connected to the printer you want to install and then select the printer. Then click Next until the end of the wizard.
When you select the second option (select a shared printer by name), type "\\", then the name of the computer where the printer is installed followed by "\" and the printer name. The text you type should be like this: "\\PCName\PrinterName". Alternatively, you can click the Browse button and select the computer and printer just like when choosing the first option described above. When finished, click Next and follow the remaining steps shown by the wizard.
The third option (add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname) is mostly used in large networks that have dedicated network printers. These printers are directly connected to a network and have their own IP address. To use this option you need to know the IP address of the printer. If you don't know it, contact the network administrator.
If you have this information, select the third option and click Next. In the next window type the printer's hostname or IP address and then the port (if needed). When done, click Next.
In the next window you can change the printer's name and choose if you want it set as your default printer. After you click on Next, you will be told that your printer has been found. Click on Finish and you are done.
Related articles:
How to share a printer with other computers from your network
How to install a local printer
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Comments
my IBM network 17 printer installs but I can't print
I receive an error in the document cue. Just says error printing.
I was told to change the IP address to the default address which on the router page is:192.168.1.1 which is the modem IP address. The router addr. has a suffix of 2.1
I'm clueless as to what to do. It is active in the wireless router.... the lite is lit. I'll keep trying perhaps I'll get lucky.M
Thanks for sharing these
Thanks for sharing these tips with us, I need them for my new job, as the matter of fact I need all the help I can get because I never handled a printer before all by myself.
Command-Line to Add Network Printer
If I know the name of the printer server and the name of the printer, is there a command-line bit I can run to add it and eliminate the clicks. It isn't that setting them up is difficult; I just need to do it for about 160 computers. I would put it out over a policy, but my parent organization doesn't allow us to create our own policies.
deleting network printer
I have just successfully installed the SAME network printer again. It seems that if I restart my computer or physically turn off the HP Deskjet, the printer goes offline and must be reinstalled.
The problem with this is I cannot delete the previous copies. Each one says "Error-deleting-offline." How do I get rid of them?
response@TCallender
1. Is it still in use? Do you still have documents in the queue. Control Panel -> Printer -> double click to see.
Cancel them if any are present.
2. Try to delete it like before.
PRINTER
I AM BEING ASKED FOR A USER NAME AND PASSWORD ON THE PC WHERE THE PRINTER IS LOCATED, I KNOW OF NO SUCH USER NAME AND PASSWORD FOR THAT COMPUTER? I AM RUNNING VISTA ON BOTH COMPUTERS?
Same
I'm having the same exact problem. Probably won't get a response before I figure this out myself, but here's to hoping.
Printer password problem
Hi, had same problem, all you do is go into Start>Network>Network and Sharing Center and one of the settings says "Password protected sharing" click on the dropdown menu and click "turn off password protected sharing"
Hope this solves your problem
Rob
thanks, that worked a treat
thanks, that worked a treat for me
Network printer won't install
I'm having trouble installing a printer on our home network. The printer is attached to desktop #1 that is running Windows XP. I'm trying to add the printer to desktop #2 that is connected to the network via wireless and it runs Vista. Desktop #2 "sees" the printer but when the Next button is clicked, an error pops up saying something like: Cannot install printer, the print spooler service is not running.
I have checked the system thoroughly and can't seem to find any way of turning on this service. The Windows Help menus tell me nothing about this problem. I'd appreciate some help.
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