Installing a printer on a network is quite cost effective measure for larger organizations because instead of installing on printer per computer, a single network printer can handle print commands of all computers connected on the network. However, there must be some communication channel between computers and printer. Largely, such two way communication is made possible by a dedicated LAN connection and a parallel port for the printer.

Before starting printer installation on a computer you must consider following task list:

A. Secure the genuine software CD for installing printer driver on your computer.

B. Know what printer or printers are available on the network by their names and which printer or printers you are allowed to use.

C. Note down the IP Address of all those printers available for you. However, smart installation wizard automatically evaluates the network and list down all available printers.

D. A live and running Internet connection as some printer installation asks for some updates or authentication from the printer manufacturer's website.

Lets us now undertake the following steps and learn to install printer on a local area network.

1. Insert the driver CD in the drive. The start-up screen appears. Move the mouse-pointer over the printer installation option, in our case Install Printer, and click the left mouse-button.

2. The language selection dialog box appears. Select the appropriate language by clicking the down-arrow button. In our case, English language is selected. However, you may choose your own language.

3. The welcome dialog box appears . Click on the Next button.

4. The Software License Agreement dialog box appears. In order to carry on with the installation process, you have to accept the terms and conditions mentioned in the dialog box. To accept the terms and conditions. click on Yes button and continue with the installation process.

5. Next, the wizard displays a dialog box asking whether you want to download latest and updated drivers from the manufacturer's website. In case you want to download drivers then move the mouse-pointer over the small round circle (radio button) beside the Yes option. After making necessary selection. move the mouse-pointer over the Next button and click on it.

6. After making decision on driver updates. the wizard presents the Connection dialog box. Using this dialog box. you have to specify to the wizard whether the printer is directly connected to your computer or located on network. Move the mouse-pointer over the radio-button beside the Connected to the Network option and click the left mouse-button. Next. move the mouse-pointer over the Next button and click the mouse-button.

7. The wizard now asks the type of network you are using. In our case. Basic Network Server Setup option is selected. which means printer is connected directly
on the network and not as a shared printer (managed by some other computer) on network. Let us abide by current option and click on the next button to continue with the installation.

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8. After providing basic information about printer and network, the wizard prompts you to locate the printer on the network. Move the mouse-pointer over the radio button beside the Search from a list of available printers option and then click over the Next button. The wizard will automatically search the available printer(s) and show to you.

9. The wizard will display the printer's model name along with the IP Address. In our case only one printer is detected by the wizard. However, in larger networks printers are present, the wizard might display you a list of printers. In such a situation, select a printer that can be accessed by your computer and then click on the next button.

10. Next. the wizard asks you choose the communication protocol. The protocol acts as communication channel between computer and printer to complete the print command issued by computer. Select Windows TCP/IP protocol from the list of protocols and click over the Next button.

11. After specifying the protocol. select the printer model and click on the Next button.

12. After model selection, Installation Type dialog box is. displayed by the wizard. Choose between Typical Installation and Custom installation- options and click over the Next button.

14. Next. the printer asks you to specify a name for the printer and whether to set the printer as default printer of your computer. Make necessary selection and click over the Next button.

14. After accepting name and your consent to set printer as default or not, the wizard once again asks your permission to share this printer on network for other users or not. Select necessary option and click over the Next button.

15. The Finish dialog box of installation phase appears. Click on the Finish button to complete the installation process. In case you don't want to print a test page (but recommended) and registering yourself as genuine software user on the website of printer's manufacturer, clicK over the tick mark signs and then click over the Finish button.

16. The last dialog box of wizard appears which by default asks you to restart the computer- Save all work on your computer before clicking on the OK button. However, due to some reasons, you might not be in a position to restart your computer instantly then move the mouse-pointer over the radio button beside the 'No, I will restart my computer later' option and click over the OK button.