How to Install a USB Printer in Windows XP

In this ehow article, I will explain how to install a printer in a windows environment. When you buy a new printer, simply plugging from you printer to your PC will not complete the job. In order to print successfully, you will have to install the printers software or driver in order give your computer instructions how to print to your printer.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Printer
• USB Cable
• Print Software/Driver

1. 

   While printer is powered OFF, Connect printer to your computer using USB Cable.

2. 

   Turn ON your printer and let windows detect that new hardware is found. At some point it will show the FOUND NEW HARDWARE WIZARD. Keep this open while doing STEP 3

3. Go to your printer manufacturers website and download driver for your specific model of printer.
   
   For HP, you go to http://www.hp.com/#Support
   
   For Dell, you go to http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen

4. In the FOUND NEW HARDWARE WIZARD, choose INSTALL FROM LIST OR SPECIFIC LOCATION (ADVANCED).

5. In the INCLUDE THIS LOCATION field, find the driver you downloaded from website. Click next at choose your printer model from the options and click next to finish wizard.

6. 

   Your printer should now be listed in printers folder and you should be able to print.

Resources

• Westchester Computer Service

[notanic]

on 3/19/2009 Hi, these instructions will not work most of the time.Drivers are in exe format, and cannot be discovered by the add printer wizard. Normal steps are:1) get driver2) run driver installer3) connect printer