Table of Contents:
- Specifying the Shared Settings of the Printer
- Point and Print
- Peer-to-Peer
This article provides information on "Setting Up for Shared Printing on Windows Operating Systems"
1. Specifying the Shared Settings of the Printer
You can share your new printer on the network using the Software and Documentation disc that comes with your printer, or using Microsoft point-and-print or peer-to-peer method. However, if you use one of the Microsoft methods, some features, such as the status monitor and other printer utilities, installed with the Software and Documentation disc, may not be available.
If you want to use the printer on a network, share the printer and install its drivers on all the computers on the network.
Windows 7, Windows 7 64-bit Edition, or Windows Server 2008 R2:
- Click Start→ Devices and Printers.
- Right-click the printer icon and select Printer properties.
- On the Sharing tab, click Change Sharing Options if exists.
Select the Share this printer check box, and then type a name in the Share name text box.
- Click Additional Drivers and select the operating systems of all network clients that print to the printer.
- Click Apply, and then click OK.
Windows 8, Windows 8 64-bit Edition, or Windows Server 2012:
- Under Desktop mode, right-click the bottom left corner of the screen, and then click Control Panel → Hardware and Sound (Hardware for Windows Server 2012) → Devices and Printers.
- Right-click the printer icon and select Printer properties.
- On the Sharing tab, click Change Sharing Options if exists.
- Select the Share this printer check box, and then type a name in the Share name text box.
- Click Additional Drivers and select the operating systems of all network clients using this printer.
- Click Apply, and then click OK.
To confirm that the printer is properly shared:
- Ensure that the printer object in the Printers, Printers and Faxes, or Devices and Printers folder is shared. The shared icon is shown under the printer icon.
- Browse Network or My Network Places. Find the host name of the server and the shared name you assigned to the printer.
Now that the printer is shared, you can install the printer on network clients using the point and print method or the peer-to-peer method.
Note: If the OS bit editions (32/64 bit edition) differ between a print server and a client computer, you need to manually add the printer driver for the client computer edition on the server. Otherwise, the printer driver cannot be installed on the client computer using the point and print or peer-to-peer method. For example, if the print server runs on Windows XP 32-bit edition, while the client computer runs on Windows 7 64-bit edition, follow the procedures below to additionally install the printer driver for 64-bit client on the 32-bit server.
- Click Additional Drivers on the screen for sharing printers.
- Select the x64 check box, and then click OK.
- Click Browse to specify the folder that contains the 64-bit OS driver, and then click OK.
Installation starts.
Windows XP, Windows XP 64-bit Edition, Windows Server 2003, or Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition:
- Click start→ Printers and Faxes.
- Right-click the printer icon and select Properties.
- On the Sharing tab, select the Share this printer check box, and then type a name in the Share name text box.
- Click Additional Drivers and select the operating systems of all network clients that print to the printer.
- Click OK.
If you are missing files, you are prompted to insert the server operating system CD.
If these steps do not correct the problem, please contact Dell Technical Support.
2. Point and Print
Windows 7, Windows 7 64-bit Edition, or Windows Server 2008 R2:
- On the Windows desktop of the client computer, click Start→ your user name→ Network (Start→ Network for Windows Server 2008 R2).
- Locate the host name of the server computer, and then double-click the host name.
- Right-click the shared printer name, and then click Connect.
- Click Install driver.
- Wait for the driver information to be copied from the server computer to the client computer, and for a new printer object to be added to the Devices and Printers folder. The time this takes varies, based on network traffic and other factors.
- Print a test page to verify installation.
- Click Start→ Devices and Printers.
- Right-click the printer you just created and select Printer properties.
- On the General tab, click Print Test Page.
When a test page prints successfully, installation is complete.
Windows 8, Windows 8 64-bit Edition, or Windows Server 2012:
- Point to the top or bottom right corner of the screen, and then click Search → Type Network in the search box, click Apps, and then click Network.
- Locate the host name of the server computer, and then double-click the host name.
- Right-click the shared printer name, and then click Connect.
- Click Install driver.
- Wait for the driver information to be copied from the server computer to the client computer, and for a new printer object to be added to the Devices and Printers folder. The time this takes varies, based on network traffic and other factors.
- Print a test page to verify installation.
- Under Desktop mode, right-click the bottom left corner of the screen, and then click Control Panel →Hardware and Sound (Hardware for Windows Server 2012) → Devices and Printers.
- Right-click the printer you just created and select Printer properties.
- On the General tab, click Print Test Page.
When a test page is printed successfully, installation is complete.
Windows XP, Windows XP 64-bit Edition, Windows Server 2003, or Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition:
Wait for the driver information to be copied from the server computer to the client computer, and for a new printer object to be added to the Printers and Faxes folder. The copy time varies, based on network traffic and other factors.
- Close My Network Places.
- Print a test page to verify installation.
- Click start→ Printers and Faxes.
- Select the printer you just created.
- Click File→ Properties.
- On the General tab, click Print Test Page.
When a test page prints successfully, installation is complete.
If these steps do not correct the problem, please contact Dell Technical Support.
3. Peer-to-Peer
If you use the peer-to-peer method, the printer driver is fully installed on each client computer. Network clients retain control of driver modifications. The client computer handles the print job processing.
Windows 7, Windows 7 64-bit Edition, or Windows Server 2008 R2:
- Click Start → Devices and Printers.
- Click Add a Printer.
- Select Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer. If the printer is listed, select the printer and click Next, or select The printer that I want isn't listed. Click Select a shared printer by name and type in the path of the printer in the text box, and then click Next.
For example: \\<server host name>\<shared printer name>
The server host name is the name of the server computer that identifies it to the network. The shared printer name is the name assigned during the server installation process.
If this is a new printer, you may be prompted to install a printer driver. If no system driver is available, then you will need to provide the path to the available driver. - Confirm the printer name, and then click Next.
- Select Yes if you want this printer to be set as the default printer, and then click Next.
- Click Print a test page if you want to verify installation.
- Click Finish.
When a test page prints successfully, installation is complete.
Windows 8, Windows 8 64-bit Edition, or Windows Server 2012:
- Under Desktop mode, right-click the bottom left corner of the screen, and then click Control Panel → Hardware and Sound (Hardware for Windows Server 2012) → Devices and Printers.
- Click Add a Printer to launch the Add Printer wizard.
- If the printer is listed, select the printer and click Next, or select The printer that I want isn't listed. Click Select a shared printer by name and type in the path of the printer in the text box, and then click Next.
For example: \\<server host name>\<shared printer name>
The server host name is the name of the server computer that identifies it to the network. The shared printer name is the name assigned during the server installation process. If this is a new printer, you may be prompted to install a printer driver. If no system driver is available, then you will need to provide the path to the available driver. - Confirm the printer name, and then click Next.
- Select Yes if you want this printer to be set as the default printer, and then click Next.
- Click Print a test page if you want to verify installation.
- Click Finish.
When a test page is printed successfully, installation is complete.
Windows XP, Windows XP 64-bit Edition, Windows Server 2003, or Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition:
- Click start→ Printers and Faxes.
- Click Add a Printer.
- Click Next.
- Select A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer, and then click Next. If the printer is not listed, type the path to the printer in the text box.
The server host name is the name of the server computer that identifies it on the network. The shared printer name is the name assigned during the server installation process.
- Click Browse for a printer, and then click Next.
If this is a new printer, you may be prompted to install a printer driver. If no system driver is available, you need to specify the path to available drivers. - Select Yes if you want this printer to be set as the default printer, and then click Next.
If you want to verify installation, click Yes to print a test page. - Click Finish.
When a test page prints successfully, installation is complete.
If these steps do not correct the problem, please contact Dell Technical Support.
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FAQs
Setting Up for Shared Printing on Windows Operating Systems? ›
In Windows® 10, your printer can be shared with other computers on your network. To share the printer of the primary computer (where the printer is connected to) with secondary computers, set up the sharing settings of the printer.
Does Windows 10 support printer sharing? ›In Windows® 10, your printer can be shared with other computers on your network. To share the printer of the primary computer (where the printer is connected to) with secondary computers, set up the sharing settings of the printer.
How do I access a shared printer on my network Windows 10? ›Connect to a Windows 10 Shared Printer
The first method is from within Devices and Printer. Click the Add Printer button, then click the link, The printer that I want isn't listed. Choose the Select a shared printer by name radio box, browse to the printer on your network, and click open.
Type Powershell in the Search bar. Right-click on Windows PowerShell, and select Run as Administrator. Type netsh advfirewall firewall set rule group="File and Printer Sharing" new enable=Yes, and hit Enter. Close PowerShell.
How do I fix printer sharing in Windows 10? ›- Make Sure Printer Sharing Is Enabled. ...
- Run the Printer Troubleshooter. ...
- Turn Off Windows Firewall. ...
- Restart the Print Spooler Service. ...
- Remove and Re-Add the Printer. ...
- Install the Latest Windows Updates.
Click "Start," “Devices and Printers,” and select the printer. There should be an icon at the bottom of the window next to State, indicating that the unit is shared. If the printer isn't shared, right-click it and select “Printer properties.” Click the “Sharing” tab and check the box next to “Share this printer.”
How to connect one printer to two computers without network Windows 10? ›Connect the printer to the first computer. Click the "Start" menu, choose "Devices and Printers," right-click on your printer, select "Printer properties," open the "Sharing" tab, and then check the check box labeled "Share this printer."
Can you split a printer cable to two computers? ›USB 2.0 Port Share 1 USB Switch: you can connect with 2 computers with this little switch hub and share one printer for 2 computers. It is an economical choice for you to use in the office or home!
What is printer pooling? ›Printer pooling is when multiple printers are linked to share the number of print impressions included in your service contract. Pooling printers can be beneficial if your company uses many printers because it allows you to consolidate the number of prints included for a billing period into one amount.
How do I find the Network path of a shared printer? ›- Choose File, Print.
- Select the printer by name.
- Look below the printer selection box. The network name may be to the right of "Where:" or "Location:"
How do I make my Network printer available to all users? ›
- Logon as an Administrator.
- Double click "My Computer" and then select printers.
- Right click on the printer whose permissions you wish to change and select properties.
- Click the security tag and select permissions.
- You can now add users/groups and grant them the appropriate privilege.
- Click OK when finished.
Solution 1.
Go to Start > Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings. 2. Select Turn on network discovery to enable network discovery. Select Turn on file and printer sharing to enable file sharing.
Hosts with Windows 10, follow these steps: 1) Go to Control Panel Home window (Start > Windows System folder > Control Panel), 2) Under System and Security > Windows Firewall, click the link "Allow an app or feature through Windows Firewall", and 3) Select the "File and Printer Sharing check box and click OK.
Why can't I share a printer between Windows 7 and 10? ›Computers with Windows 7 provided by OCIO are using 32-bit version while the Windows 10 is using 64-bit version. If you need to share a printer connected on a Windows 7 computer and want to share it to user using Windows 10. You must provide the 64-bit printer driver on the Windows 7 computer.
Does Windows 10 support old printers? ›Out-of-the-box Windows 10 does a pretty good job detecting and installing wireless as well as locally connected printers automatically. However, there are still times when you may run into problems if you're trying to add an old printer.
How do I add a shared printer as a local port in Windows 10? ›In the Control Panel window select Devices and Printers. In the Devices and Printers window click on Add a printer. Choose "Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings", then click Next. Select Create a new port and choose Standard TCP/IP Port, then click Next.
How do I share a printer without credentials Windows 10? ›If you want all the network users to print to your printer without providing a user name and a password (to connect to your computer), then click at Network and Sharing Center link and continue reading below to disable (turn off) the password protected sharing.