How to Set Up a Network Printer in XP

By Kate E

Overview

In most offices it is not practical to have a separate printer hooked up to each computer. It costs more and it can take up a lot of space. Instead, most offer the opportunity for you to set up a network printer on your machine. This is easy to do using Windows XP and your office's print server. You can teach your computer to talk to the print server, which will in turn transmit your data to the printer.

Step 1

Boot your computer and let XP load normally. Click on the Start button in the bottom left corner. Select "Control Panel" from the menu. Double click on "Printers and Faxes." A box called Printer tasks will show up on the left side of the window. Click on "Add a printer."

Step 2

Click on "Next" to start the printer wizard. Choose the second option in the next window to tell your machine to find a network printer. Click on "Next" again to choose "Browse for printer." Highlight the name (manufacturer and model) of the printer you'd like to use in the directory. Click on "Next." (If you can't find the printer, check to make sure both the print server and the printer are plugged in and the cables are connected properly.)

Step 3

Choose "Have disk" when prompted for your printer's driver and insert the disk with your printer driver file on it. If you don't have the disk, browse the directory by make and model to find your specific printer. If you still can't find it, go to the official site for the printer's manufacturer and download it from there. Your computer needs the driver file so the printer can translate data correctly.

Step 4

Click on "Next." Your computer will load the driver and alert you when it's done. Then it will ask if you would like the printer to print a test page. Click "Yes" Check the printer to ensure that it works.