Sharing a printer under Windows XP and Vista

There are several ways to share a printer, It depend on the network and printer. We are going to discuss two most common things in it :biggrin: .

1. Share printer attached to a micro-computers by a cable
2. Installing the WiFi network printer equipped with a native WiFi card

Share printer attached to a micro-computers by a cable

It has two stages: sharing the printer on the computer owner and the declaration of this printer on other computers on the network will have the right to use it.

To do this go without a panel of the micro-computer when the printer is connected. (In Vista, choose View classic). Click Printers.

Under Vista:

• Right-click on the desired printer and click Share.
• Enter a name (ex: HP LaserJet).
• Tick both boxes on the new window, then OK.
• Open "Network and Sharing Center" and select "Sharing Folders" and "Printer Sharing".

XP:

• Right-click on the printer you want and then "Share"
• Tick "Share this printer" and enter a name (example: HP LaserJet) and OK.

As for shared files, a hand (in XP) or a square icon (with Vista) is now present on the printer icon on the computer.
Sometimes at this first stage, this printer appears on other computers.
If it does not appear on another computer on the network, then force the shares, saying the printer on this computer.

To do this on this remote computer, click Control Panel, then Printers and "Add Printer".

XP:

• The Add Printer Wizard opens checking "or network printer connected to another computer" then Next. ** On the new window, to force recognition, select "find a printer" and next.
• Select the printer that appears in the working group attached to the name of the computer owner, Next and Finish.
• If the printer is not discovered by the automatic search, then check the other option "Connect to this printer" and click Next. In the new window that appears, is available printers are visible, or just browse the tree of your PC until the desired printer. Select it, then Next and yes by default.
• Then install the printer drivers on the installation CD printer.

Under Vista:

• Click on "Add a network printer, which started automatically search for your printer. Select the printer.
• If the automatic search is unsuccessful, click the small arrow green "printer that I want is not listed. In the new window, check "Select a shared printer by name" ** then click Browse. In the new window, click left on display computer that is right, the tree of your computer where the printer identified by name.
• Click on the printer you want and follow what makes the display window of establishing connection with its scroll bar. A message may appear at the end: "the driver", click the appropriate button ** forcing Windows to install the driver. If it was not found, you may be asked to insert the CD that came with the printer manufacturer.
• Finally, it is proposed to define the new default printer and print a test page.
• Once done, open the Network and Sharing Center "and then on the upper right corner of the window, click on" View full mapping. "
• The printer should appear (with the name you assigned) or the mapping or down under device detected but can not appear in the mapping.

Installing the WiFi network printer equipped with a native WiFi card

Some manufacturers now offer printers (often multifunctional) cards equipped with integrated WiFi.

A printer connects to the WiFi network like any any PC or mobile device equipped with a WiFi card.
The connection configurations are described in detail in the manual accompanying the printer.
It is sometimes necessary, depending on model, to the way in the Box Association (button 1 for the LiveBox).

The WiFi card to the printer detects available networks, we must choose the corresponding network and select "Connect Infrastructure", and finally to enter a WEP key or WPA.

The next step is to install the software that came with the printer on each of micro-computers on the network to use the various possibilities of it

The printer on the network is not shared by a microcomputer particular but as if it was directly connected to the computers.