51. Connect to a Shared Printer
You can take advantage of your WiFi workgroup by sharing printers on the network. Sharing a printer allows users on the network to use a single printer, negating the need to buy a printer for every computer on the network. After users on the workgroup connect to a shared printer, the printer can be configured on their computers and accessed as needed in the future from applications on the computer. Although the Windows XP Help system suggests that you install the new remote printer using the Printer and Faxes window (accessed from the Control Panel), it is easier to connect to a shared printer "visually" by opening your workgroup from the My Network Places window and accessing the shares for a particular computer, in this case the computer that is sharing the printer. You can then connect to the printer directly in the workgroup computer's window. Connect to Shared Printer
Note In some cases, the printer driver will not be downloaded to your computer automatically from the computer that provides the shared printer. A message might appear, explaining that the driver could not be copied and requesting the location of the CD or other media that contains the software driver for the printer. If this happens, you will need to install the driver on your computer using the original CD or floppy disk that came with the printer. After you have installed the driver, you can print to the remote printer. To test the printer, right-click the printer's icon in the Printers and Faxes window (open this window from the Control Panel) and select Properties from the context menu. On the General tab of the Properties dialog box, click the Print Test Page button. A test page should be printed on the printer. If you do not get a printout, make sure that the printer is online and connected to the computer that is sharing the printer. If you are still having trouble printing, delete the printer from your Printers and Faxes window and follow the steps provided in this task to reconnect to the printer. |