How to Add a Printer to Your Vista Laptop

Connect USB printers to your laptop with the included USB cable.

Windows Vista automatically finds drivers for connected printers. Vista supports printers connected directly to your laptop or printers shared over a network, with wireless or with Bluetooth. While Windows Vista automatically adds printers connected with USB, other printers must be added manually. Add a printer to your Vista laptop using the "Add Printer Wizard."

Instructions

Local Printers

1. Connect the printer to your laptop using the included cable unless it is shared over a network or supports wireless or Bluetooth access.

2. Click "Start," then "Control Panel."

3. Click "Hardware and Sound," then "Printers" in the "Control Panel" window.

4. Click "Add a Printer" on the toolbar in the "Printers" window.

5. Click "Add a Local Printer" in the "Add Printer" window.

6. Click the box next to "Use an Existing Port" in the "Choose a Printer Port" window, click the port the printer is plugged in to and click "Next."

7. Click the printer manufacturer and model in the "Install the Printer Driver" window and click "Next."

8. Type a name for the printer in the "Printer Name" box, click "Next" and click "Finish."

Network, Wireless or Bluetooth Printers

1. Click "Start" and "Control Panel."

2. Click "Hardware and Sound," then "Printers" in the "Control Panel" window.

3. Click "Add a Printer" on the toolbar in the "Printers" window.

4. Click "Add a Network, Wireless or Bluetooth Printer" in the "Add Printer" window.

5. Click the name of your printer in the "List of Printers" window and click "Next."

6. Install the printer driver on your computer by clicking "Install" if prompted and then clicking "Finish."

Tips & Warnings

• Verify your printer is working properly by printing a test page. Right-click the printer in the "Printers" window, click "Properties" and click "Print Test Page" in the "Properties" window.

• Remove a printer by right-clicking it in the "Printers" window and clicking "Delete."

References

• Microsoft: Windows: Add or Remove a Printer

Resources

• Microsoft: Windows Vista