If like many others you have many computers at your home or office and a single printer
and are wondering as to how to network a printer? Here is the answer.
Sharing of printer has other advantages too. Suppose if a printer attached to a computer stops working or is busy printing some other assignment then you can easily complete your printing needs with a shared printer that is attached to some other computer. The steps that need to be followed to network a printer are:
To connect a printer onto other computer you need a router through which all the computers can be inter-linked and the printer can be shared by all even though it is connected to just one of the computer.
First of all, get onto the computer which has the printer. Click on start and get to the printer and fax section using the control panel.
After getting there you will see a list of all the printers and scanners attached to that computer. Right click on the printer you want to share. A popup box will appear on your computer screen. In this box click on the tab named "Share this printer". After you have pressed that button a box will appear wherein you will need to enter a name for that printer. It is always advisable to enter a name that contains the printer manufacturer's name and model number as it will be easy for people to recognize the printer.
Once the name has been given, click on the apply button to save all the changes you have made. After this your printer is ready to be shared for other computers. However, you still cannot use the printers on other computers as you need to add that printer as the default printer in all the other computers.
Before you begin the process of adding the other computers with the printer make sure that the computers are properly connected with each other and with the computer carrying the printer. The computers can be connected via wired router, wireless router or even a Bluetooth device. After going in the printers and fax section of the computer click on the "Add Printer" tab and select that printer from the list of the available printers. Finish the process by saving all the changes. Now your computer is ready to print anything from a remote computer. Follow these steps if you are wondering how to network a printer.