Dummies, Wireless

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Part IV: Using a Wireless Network
Remotely installing the printer on all network PCs
You perform the third step at every other PC in the house. Basically, you
install the printer on each of these computers, but in a logical way — logically
as opposed to physically installing and connecting the printer to each computer.
You install the printer just like any other printer except that you’re
installing a network printer, and the printer installation wizard searches the
network for the printers you want to install.
The process you use will vary depending on the operating system you use
and the type of printer you’re trying to install. In every case, read the printer
documentation before you start because some printers require their software
to be partially installed before you try to add the printer. We’ve seen this a lot
with multifunction printers that support scanning, copying, and faxing.
With Windows, the easiest way to start the installation of a printer is to look
inside My Network Places, find the computer sharing the printer, and doubleclick
the shared printer. This action starts the Add Printer Wizard, which
takes you through the process of adding the printer. This wizard works like
any good wizard — you make a few selections and click Next a lot. If you didn’t
add the drivers to the shared printer already, you may be asked for the printer
drivers. Just use the Browse button to direct the wizard to look in the shared
folder or CD-ROM drive where you put the printer software on the computer
that the printer is attached to.
You have two options for installing a network printer:
� From your Printers folder: Choose Start➪Settings➪Printers and Faxes
(or simply Start➪Printers and Faxes, depending on how your Start menu
is configured).
� From My Network Places: Double-click the computer that has the printer
attached. An icon appears, showing the shared printer. Right-click the
icon and then choose Connect from the pop-up menu that appears.
Either route leads you to the Add Printer Wizard, which guides you through
the process of adding the network printer.
Don’t start the Add Printer Wizard unless you have installed the proper drivers
to the shared printer or you have the installation CDs for your printer
handy. The Add Printer Wizard installs the printer drivers (software files that
contain the info required for Windows to talk to your printers and exchange
data for printing). The wizard gets these from the CD that comes with your
printer. If you don’t have the CD, go to the Web site of your printer manufacturer
and download the driver to your desktop and install from there. Don’t
forget to delete the downloaded files from your desktop when you’ve finished
installing them on the computer.