Printers can be connected to a computer through the printer's parallel port, USB port, or through a local area network. Only parallel printers (printers connected to the computer's parallel port) and USB printers will be discussed in this chapter. Networked printers will be described later in Chapter, Introduction to Networking. Windows XP can detect printers automatically. If Windows XP detects a printer, the operating system automatically installs drivers, updates the registry, and allocates the system resources to the printer.

To install a printer, connect the printer to the appropriate computer port with the appropriate cable. First, power the computer on. The Windows XP wizard normally detects and leads you through the installation process. However, if XP does not detect the printer and it is a printer attached to the parallel port, have the Windows XP-compatible printer driver ready and perform the following steps on a computer running WindowsXP:

1. Log on to the computer.

2. Click on the Start button and select Control Panel.

3. If in Category View, click on Printers and Other Hardware. If in Classic View, double-click on the Printers and Faxes icon.

4. Access the Add a printer icon or selection. The Add Printer wizard begins. Click on the Next button.

5. Ensure the Local printer attached to this computer radio button is enabled and click on Next. Windows XP tries to detect a plug and play printer. If it cannot detect it. .. you are advised to install it manually. Click on the Next button.

6. Ensure that the Use the following port radio button is enabled. Select the correct port (usually LPT1), and click Next.

7. In the Install Printer Software window, click on the Have Disk option, insert the XP compatible driver, and click on Next. Select the appropriate model and click on Next.

8. Name the printer and select whether the printer will be the default printer.

9. Click Next.

10. When prompted if the printer is to be shared, select the appropriate response. If shared, the prin~er must have a share name and optionally list the location and enter comments. Click Next.

11. Select the option to print a test page and click Next.

12. Click on the Finish button.

If a printer has a TCPjIP connection, manually install the printer using the steps given above except instead of selecting the Local printer option, select the Standard TCP/IP Port option and click Next twice. Enter the printer name or IP address, the port name, and click Next. The Install Printer Software window appears and the same steps are used as a local printer.

To configure a printer as a default printer (the printer that applications normally use), locate the printer in the Printers folder. Access the Printers folder by clicking on the Start button and clicking on the Printers and Faxes selection. Once you have located the appropriate printer icon; right-click on the icon. Click on the Set as Default Printer option. In the Printers folder, the default printer has a check mark next to the icon.