The printer has long been an integral attribute of any office. He also lives and works at home with the vast majority of users. Our review is intended for those who are involved in connecting the printer for the first time. After reading, you will know exactly how to connect the printer and how to set it up.
So, you have a computer and a box with a printer. Task: the printer must be connected to a computer and configured. Getting to the task, we need to make sure that we have the necessary tools to solve it. What should be done:
- Verify that there is a cord through which the printer and computer will connect. If it is absent, it must be purchased at any computer store. Do not “bother” with the names of cords and printers. It is enough for the seller to say that you need a USB cable for the printer - you will be perfectly understood everywhere.
- To install the printer, you will need a driver installation disk. Usually it comes with a printer. Make sure you have one. If not, you need to go to the website of the printer manufacturer, find your printer model there and download drivers for it.
- Make sure that the computer has a CD-ROM drive and that there is free space on the computer’s hard drive (Disk C).
How to connect a printer to a computer.
Option 1.
- Turn on the printer;
- Connect the cord to the printer that will communicate with the computer. You do not need to connect it to a computer yet;
- Insert the installation disk (supplied with the printer) into the computer’s drive;
- After starting the disk, follow the prompts;
- Installation and configuration will occur automatically.
Option 2 (if there is no installation disk).
- Download and save the printer driver to a folder on your computer’s hard drive;
- Plug in the printer;
- Install printer drivers on the computer system. From the folder into which they were previously saved, run the file;
- Connect the computer and printer with the appropriate cord;
- The computer system itself will find the printer. If everything is done correctly, the printer is ready to work.
Option 3 - use the installation wizard for new equipment.
- Download and save the printer driver to a folder on your computer’s hard drive;
- Plug in the printer;
- Connect the computer and printer using the appropriate cord;
- Go to the Start menu, then Printers and Faxes, then find and click Add Printer;
- Install using the “Installation Wizard”.
Highlights of working with the “Installation Wizard”:
- Select a connection port (LPT1 or USB)
- From the list, select the manufacturer and model of your printer;
- If your device is not in the list, click "Install from disk";
- If the driver is on the hard drive - click "Browse" and specify the path to the folder with the drivers;
- Assign a name to the printer;
- To test the performance, put a dot near “Yes” in the “Print a test page?” Dialog;
- Click "Finish" to complete the settings;
- If the test page was printed without defects, clicking OK will close the window.
We examined how to connect a printer. I want to believe that there will be no more questions with the connection. Now we know all the steps that are needed to get a complete answer to the question "how to connect a printer."
There is another question that we have not considered: is it connecting to a network printer. In our case, a network printer is a printer that is connected to a local network. There is a network of several computers and one shared printer. How to connect to it:
- Go to the "Start" menu, then select "Printers and Faxes";
- Select "Add Printer." As an option: in the "Printers and Faxes" window, select the free space. The right mouse button will bring up a menu in which we select "Install Printer";
- In the "Installation Wizard" that opens, click "Next" and then select "Network Printer" + "Next";
- Select "Browse Printers" + "Next";
- From the list, select the name of the printer to which there is sharing + "Next";
- To the question "Use by default" click "Yes" + "Next";
- Click "Finish" - this will complete the connection process.
- The system may request the installation of printer drivers - click “Yes” or “Install”.
- Click "Finish" - and now you have access to print. All your documents can be printed on this printer.