Installing a Printer

WINV-3.6.1, WINV-3.6.3

To install a printer, you do not need to shut down your computer. Simply attach the printer cable to the appropriate connector on your computer, according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and plug in the power cord. If you connect your printer to your computer through a USB port, Windows detects the new hardware device and installs the printer, and you are ready to print. Otherwise, you can use the Add Printer Wizard in conjunction with the Found New Hardware Wizard to detect and install the printer. The Add Printer Wizard asks you a series of questions to help you install either a local or network printer, establish a connection, and print a test page.

Set Up a Local Printer Using the Add Printer Wizard

Click the Start button, and then click the Control Panel.

Double-click the Printers icon in Classic view.

Click the Add a printer button on the toolbar.

[View full size image]

Click Add a local printer.

Select the Use an existing port or Create a new port option, and then click Next to continue.

[View full size image]

Select the printer manufacturer and model, and then click Next to continue.

Type a printer name.

Select or clear the Set as the default printer check box, and then click Next to continue.

To test the printer, click Print a test page.

Click Finish.

Set Up a Network Printer Using the Add Printer Wizard

Click the Start button, and then click the Control Panel.

Double-click the Printers icon in Classic view.

Click the Add a printer button on the toolbar.

Click Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer.

Select the printer you want to install, and then click Next to continue.

If necessary, click Install driver to install the printer driver.

[View full size image]

If available, type a name for the printer.

Select or clear the Set as the default printer check box, and then click Next to continue.

To test the printer, click Print a test page.

Click Finish.

Did You Know? You can display printer and communication ports. Click the Start button, click Control Panel, double-click the Printers icon in Classic view, click the File menu, click Server Properties, and then click the Ports tab. The available ports don’t have a printer name associated with it.

For Your Information: Understanding USB Ports A port is the location on the back of your computer where you connect the printer cable. You can connect the cable to either a printer port, which is labeled LPT1 or LPT2, to a communications port, which is labeled COM1 or COM2, or to a Universal Serial Bus port, which is labeled USB. A printer port is called a parallel port, which sends more than one byte simultaneously. A communications port is called a serial port, which sends information one byte at a time. The USB port is a new technology that is expected to replace parallel and serial ports. A USB (Universal Serial Bus) port is an external hardware interface on the computer that allows you to connect a USB device. A single USB port can be used to connect up to 127 peripheral devices, such as mice, modems, and keyboards, and supports data transfer rates of 480 Mbs (480 million bits per second). USB also supports plug and play installation and hot plugging, which is the ability to add and remove devices to a computer while the computer is running and have the operating system automatically recognize the change.