How to Connect a USB Printer to a Network
USB printers come in two different varieties: those that are network-ready and those that are not. For a printer that does not have a network adapter already built in, you can purchase an external network adapter and connect it to your printer. These devices are available at most office supply stores such as Staples or Office Depot. Once you have your printer network-ready, you can begin to add it to your network.
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Instructions
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Connect the USB cable from your printer to your computer via the USB ports on both devices.
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Connect an Ethernet cable from the port on the back of the printer or network adapter to the back of your wireless router.
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Click the "Start" button on your desktop and select "Control Panel" from the Start menu.
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Click "Hardware and Sound," then "Devices and Printers" in Windows Vista and 7. If you are using XP, click "Printers and Hardware," then "View installed printers or fax printers."
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Right-click on the printer icon that appears in the pane to the right, and click "Sharing" in the menu that appears.
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Click the "Sharing" tab and select "Share this printer" by clicking in the box next to this heading. You can name the printer and it will appear under this name for all people accessing it on the network. Click "Apply," then "OK" to finalize the settings.
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References
- Photo Credit dun cat - printer image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
