Summary

14 IT Essentials: PC Harware and Software Companion GuideComputer-Shared PrintersA user’s computer that has a printer attached can share that printer with other users on thenetwork. Windows XP makes the process of enabling shared printers fast and easy. In ahome network, it means that users can print documents from wherever they are in the houseby using a wireless laptop. In a small office network, sharing a printer means one printercan serve many users.Sharing a printer from a computer also has disadvantages. The computer sharing the printeruses its own resources to manage the print jobs coming to the printer. If a user on the desktopis working at the same time that a user on the network is printing, the desktop usermight notice a performance slowdown. In addition, the printer is not available if the userreboots or powers down the computer with a shared printer.How ToHow ToDescribe How to Install Network Printer Software andDrivers on a ComputerWindows XP allows computer users to share their printers with other users on the network.There are two steps:Step 1.Step 2.Configure the computer attached to the printer to share the printer with other networkusers.Configure a user’s computer to recognize the shared printer and print to it.To configure the computer with the printer attached to accept print jobs from other networkusers, follow these steps:Step 1.Step 2.Step 3.Step 4.Step 5.Choose Start > Control Panel > Printers and Other Hardware > Printersand Faxes.Select the printer you want to share.The Printer Tasks dialog box will appear on the left. Select Share this printer.The Printer Properties dialog box for that printer will display. Select the Sharingtab. Select Share this printer and enter the desired share name. This is the namethat the printer will appear as to other users.Verify that sharing has been successful. Return to the Printers and Faxes folderand notice that the printer icon now has a hand under it, as shown in Figure 14-8.This shows that the printer is now a shared resource.