How can share a printer between multiple computers printer windows7 or Windows XP Microsoft Windows 95 or 98?

How can  share a printer between multiple computers?


How can I share a printer between multiple computers?
Users who have multiple computers in their home or work environment may wish to share a printer with the other computers to help save on cost and for convenience. Below are some of the ways you can share a printer on a network for different setups.

Before setting up the printer to be shared on a network, you must decide what setup you plan on doing. Below are the different setups and their advantages and disadvantages.

Printer connected to a computer or server
Dedicated print server
Network printer

Printer connected to computer or server

Connecting a printer to a computer and sharing the printer from that computer is the most common solution for sharing a printer because of the ease and price. The primary disadvantage of this is that the computer must always be on in order for the printer to work. Although this solution may not be the best solution for everyone it is usually the easiest and cheapest solution for sharing your printer between all the computers on your network.

Below are steps for sharing your printer with each of the major Microsoft Windows operating systems. For these steps to work you must already have a network setup at your home.

    How do I setup my own home network?

Setting up the printer to be shared on the network

Microsoft Windows 2000 or XP

    Open the Windows Control Panel
    Double-click the "Printers" or "Printers and Faxes" icon.
    If you currently have a printer already installed on the computer right-click the printer icon and click Properties.
    In the Properties window click the Sharing tab and make sure the printer is shared.

    How do I connect Windows to a network printer?

Microsoft Windows 95 or 98

    Open the Windows Control Panel
    Double-click Network
    In the Network window under the Configuration tab click the File and Print Sharing button.
    In the File and Print Sharing Window check the "I want to be able to allow others to print to my printer(s)" option. Note: If the computer asks to restart the computer after selecting this option make sure to restart.
    Click Ok and then Ok again to close out of the Network Window.
    Once back in the Control Panel double-click printers
    If you currently have a printer already installed on the computer right-click the printer icon and click Properties. In the Properties window click the sharing tab and make sure the printer is shared.

    How do I connect Windows to a network printer?

Dedicated print server

If the above option does not work for you or you do not wish to have a computer always turned on and maintained you may want to get a hardware print server. A print server enables you to connect a small network appliance to your network and connect each your printers to it.

Click here to search for available dedicated print servers

Network printer

Some printers, often high-end printers have the capability to connect directly to a network or have hardware installed into them that enables the printer to be connected to the Network. If your printer supports this option and has the necessary hardware you should be able to connect the printer directly to the Network and have it detected by the computers.

When these printers are connected to a network you'll often be required to enter the network information such as the networks gateway, printer IP, etc.
Additional information

    Installing a PC parallel port computer printer.
    How do I connect Windows to a network printer?

To turn on file and printer sharing

1. Open Advanced sharing settings by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type network, click Network and Sharing Center, and then, in the left pane, click Change advanced sharing settings.
2. Click the chevron to expand the current network profile.
3. If printer sharing is off, under File and printer sharing, select Turn on file and printer sharing, and then click Save changes.  If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Now you need to share the printer itself.

To share your printer

1. Open Devices and Printers by clicking the Start button , and then, on the Start menu, clicking Devices and Printers.
2. Right-click the printer you want to share, and then click Printer properties.
3. Click the Sharing tab, and select the Share this printer check box.

Other people on your network can now connect to this printer. All they need to do is add a network printer (your printer) to their computers.

To add a network printer

1. Open Devices and Printers by clicking the Start button , and then, on the Start menu, clicking Devices and Printers.
2. Click Add a printer.
3. Click Add a network, wireless, or Bluetooth printer, click the shared printer, click Next, and follow the instructions on the screen.

And other way of  sharing printer windows7 or Windows XP

1. Click on Start in the bottom left corner of your screen. A popup list will appear.
2. Select Control Panel from the popup list. Type the word network in the search box.
3. Click on Network and Sharing Center.
4. Click on Change advanced shared settings, in the left pane.
5. Click on the down arrow, which will expand the network profile.
6. Select File and printer sharing and choose Turn on file and printer sharing.
7. Click on Save changes.

You're now ready to share your printer.

1. Click on Start in the bottom left corner of your screen. A popup list will appear.
2. Click on Devices and Printers, from the popup list.
3. Right click the printer you want to share. A dropdown list will appear.
4. Select Printer properties from the dropdown list.
5. Click on the Sharing tab
6. Select the Share this printer check box.

In order for other people to connect to the printer, they just have to add the network printer that you just opened for sharing to their computers. Here's how to do this.

1. Click on Start in the bottom left corner of your screen. A popup list will appear.
2. Click on Devices and Printers from the popup list.
3. Select Add a printer.
4. Click on Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer.
5. Click the shared printer.
6. Click Next. Continue according to the instructions on the screen.

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