How to Network a Printer

Learning how to network a printer in Windows only takes a few minutes. Installing a network printer in your home or office eliminates the need for everyone to have their own printer, which saves money and makes running your network much easier.

If you are running Microsoft Windows 2000 /XP, it is easy to share a printer on computers that are already networked together. It is simply a matter or installing the printer on one computer and allowing the other computers to have access to that printer. When you're installing a shared printer, remember to choose a location that is central to everyone who needs it.

Adding a Printer to the Network
The first step is to connect the printer to one computer. Using the Windows Installation Wizard, connect the printer to any computer on your network.

After installing the computer, you must change the access to the printer to Share. To do this, open the Control Panel menu in Windows and double click on Printers and Faxes. If the printer has been properly installed, it should appear. If it doesn't appear, check the connection to the computer. You may need to reboot the computer to complete the installation.

When you see the printer you want to share, right click on it and select Properties. Click on the Sharing tab, click the Share Printer option, then click OK.

The printer is now set up for shared access, but before other users can begin printing to a network printer, you need to grant access from each computer or workstation.

For each computer that will use the printer, ppen the Windows Control Panel and select Printers and Faxes. Click Add a Printer under Printer Tasks. The Install Printer Wizard will open.

Select Network Printer and click Next. Type the name of the printer's network address. With XP, you can click the Browse icon to browse your network and locate the printer rather than typing the address. Once the path has been typed or the printer has been found click OK. The installation is complete.

You may need to install printer drivers on each computer so that they can communicate with the printer. Keep in mind, too, that the computer connected to the printer must be turned on and booted for other people to use it.