Installing a networked printer

Put: 07.11.2006 | Rev 07.11.2006 | Contributed by Andrew Mallett

The process is exactly the same as under Windows 2000/XP.

Under Control Panel | Printers, click 'Add printer'. Although it's a networked printer, select 'Add a local printer..'

Select Port Type..

Under 'Choose a printer port' select 'Create a new port' and select 'Standard TCP/IP port..'

Select Port Type..

Under 'Device type' select 'Autodetect' and under 'Hostname', type the IP Address of the printer or print server. Tick 'Query the printer..' to get Vista to do the hard work of deciding what printer it is and finding the drivers for it..

Select Port Type..

Being hot-off-the-shelf, Vista already had drivers for a fairly recent HP Laserjet 2420 and installed without a hitch..

Select Port Type..

A networked printer behaves just the same as a directly-connected printer, except it uses a network connection, usually with its own IP Address, instead of a parallel cable.

- A.