Windows XP: Sharing printers

Sharing printers

Published: August 15, 2006
Even if you have more than one computer, you don’t need more than one printer. Instead, connect your computers and your printer to a home network, and you can use the printer from any computer on your network as if it were directly connected to the computer you’re working on. Just be sure you leave the computer the printer is attached to turned on.
To set up printer sharing, you have to:
1.
Share the printer from the computer that it is attached to.
2.
Connect to the shared printer on the computer(s) that you want to print from.
These steps are described below.
Share your printer

On the computer that has the printer attached
1.
Log on to your computer as an administrator. For more information, see Access the administrator account from the Welcome screen.
2.
Click Start, and then click Printers and Faxes.
Note: Depending on your computer settings or your version of Microsoft Windows XP, you may have to access the Printers and Faxes option through the Control Panel.

3.
In the Printers and Faxes window, right-click your printer, and then click Sharing.

4.
In the My Printer Properties dialog box, click Share this printer.

5.
Click OK.

Your printer is now shared, and you are ready to connect to it from your other computer(s), as described in the next section.

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Connect to a shared printer

To connect to a shared printer on your home network
1.
Click Start, and then click Printers and Faxes.
Note: Depending on your computer settings or your version of Microsoft Windows XP, you may have to access the Printers and Faxes option through the Control Panel.

2.
In the Printers and Faxes window, click File, and then click Add Printer.

3.
On the Welcome to the Add Printer Wizard page, click Next.

4.
On the Local or Network Printer page, click A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer, and then click Next.

5.
On the Specify a Printer page, click Browse for a printer, and then click Next.

6.
On the Browse for Printer page, under Microsoft Windows Network, expand any groups you see by clicking the plus sign next to the group name. Then select your printer. Click Next.

7.
In the Connect to Printer dialog box, click Yes.

8.
On the Completing the Add Printer Wizard page, click Finish.

You are now ready to print to the network printer, just as you would to a printer that is attached directly to your computer.
Repeat these steps for each computer on your home network to connect them to the shared printer.





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