Add a Network Printer to Windows Vista or Windows XP

Windows XP, Vista, and now windows seven, allow you to use computer hardware that is connected to another computer on your Network. the following article shows you how to how to add a Network Printer. This is referring to a normal printer that is not network enabled. To see how to connect a network printer or a wireless network printer please see more information about how to add network printing.

 

What do you need to add a network printer?

1. A network printer can be a printer that is already installed on one computer in your home or office network. It does not have to be anything special.
2. You need to know the actual computer name that the printer is installed on. 
3. Printer Sharing has to be enabled. (Go to Control Panel>Printers Settings Icon>right click on the printer icon and choose sharing. Also create a simple name for your printer here.)
4. The share name of you shared printer. It usually is the brand of the printer which could be cannon bj3000, however I like to rename it just printer.

Now
days a printer will come with wireless networking capabilities or at the very least an Ethernet port to easily connect to your home network. This tutorial is for a printer without any of these options available.

How to add a network printer onto your home network:

1. Go to the control panel which can be found by clicking the start button.
2. In the left bar click on switch to classic view.
3. Then click on the Printer and Faxes Icon.
4. Choose to Add Printer in the left sidebar.
5. A dialog box will appear. You can choose to add a network Printer. Then ask the computer to find it. If it does find it your done.
6. When the computer does not find your network printer manually type it in yourself.

1. I have written serverprinter$ then I pressed Next. Server is the name of the computer that has the printer installed on it, and Printer$ is the name I gave my printer when I enabled printer sharing.

Advantages and disadvantages if you add a network printer?

Advantages:

• You only need one printer for your entire network.
• You save money on office equipment.
• You save space.
• You can turn an old printer into a network printer.

Disadvantages:

• If another user is printing hundreds of pages on the network printer you will have to wait for them to finish printing.
• The computer the network printer is attached to must be on for the printer to function. On the other hand if you have a true network printer then you only need the printer to be powered on the use network printing.
• If another user is printing hundreds of pages on the network printer you will have to wait for them to finish printing.  Consider utilizing an online printing service if there is a large printing job.

Luckily you can now buy a network printer ready to connect to your network, however if you are trying to make use of an older type printer this tutorial can be helpful