JeffBlais.com

One of the most common things I get asked is, “Is there a way that I can print without having to connect my printer to my computer all the time?” and the answer is yes, if you have a network setup.  But, you have to go through a series of steps to allow the other computers on your network to see the printer in the first place and the computer that the printer is connected to must be on in order for the other computer to print.

I am going to walk you through a series of steps to share your printer out so other computer on your network print without having to be directly connected to your printer.

Sharing Your Printer

These first steps are done on the computer that the printer is going to stay connected to.

1. Once you have your computer started click Start then Control Panel.

2. Locate the icon/option labeled Network Setup Wizard and open that.

3. Once the Welcome to the Network Setup Wizard window comes up click Next.

4. Before you continue… Just click Next again.

5. Select a connection method. Select This computer connect directly to the Internet through a residential gateway or through another computer on my network then click Next.

6. Give this computer a description and name.  Located the Computer name box and type in a unique name for your computer that you will recognize then click Next.

7. Name your network.  The Workgroup name should default to MSHOME you should leave that the alone then click Next.

8. File and printer sharing.  Make sure that Turn on file and printer sharing is selected then click Next.

9. Ready to apply network settings… click Next.

10. You’re almost done… Select Just finish the wizard; I don’t need to run the wizard on other computers then click Next.

11. Completing the Network Setup Wizard.  Click Finish.

You may now be asked to reboot your computer, is so, do it then continue with the next steps.

12. Click Start then Control Panel once again.

13. Locate Printer and Faxes and open it.

14. Locate you printer click it once to highlight it then click File and choose Sharing…

15. Select Share this printer and give your printer a name that you will recognize then press Apply and OK.

Adding The Shared Printer To Your Other Computers

Before following these next steps you will need to run through Steps 1-11 under the Sharing Your Printer section on the computers that are NOT directly connected to the printer so that they are part of the same network and all communicate with each other.

These next steps will walk you through adding the printer you just shared out on the other computer that are NOT directly connected to the printer.  First you must run through Steps.  Make sure that the computer that IS directly connect to the printer is turned on.

1. Click Start then Control Panel.

2. Located Printers and Faxes and open it.

3. Double click Add Printer.

4. Welcome to the Add Printer Wizard.  Click Next.

5. Local or Network Printer.  Select A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer then click Next.

6. Specify a Printer.  Select Browse for a printer then click Next.

7. Browse for Printer. Click on MSHOME then find the name of the printer you shared out and click it once to highlight it then click Next.

8. Default Printer. If you would like the printer you are adding to become you default printer then choose Yes other wise choose No then click Next.

9. Completing the Add Printer Wizard. Just click Finish.

That’s all.  It does seems like a lot but once you have done it many time over and over like myself you find that it actually is pretty easy and there is really no reason that everyone should be able to share out there printer.  The wizards are there to help then they work so use them.

I hope this helps some people out and maybe even saves on some headaches trying to figure it out on your own.