How to Network a Printer

Don't lug your printer around your home or office – network your printer so that all of your computers can access it.

Step 1: Choose printer Choose between a network printer, a network capable printer, and a printer with a USB port.
Step 2: Connect network printer Connect a network printer using the ethernet network jack to a router with an ethernet cable.
Step 3: Connect network-capable printer Connect a network-capable printer by installing a print server card in the expansion slot. This card adds an ethernet jack to the printer. Connect the printer to the router with the ethernet cable.
Step 4: Connect USB printer Connect a printer with only a USB jack to a wireless print server using a USB cable. The router detects the printer server, and each computer connected on the wireless network can access the printer.
Step 5: Connect to one computer Connect a printer to one of the computers via USB if you don't want to buy a network printer or print server. Open Printers and Scanners in Control Panel, right-click on the printer, select Sharing, and check Share printer.
TIP: To connect a PC to a printer that is also connected to a Mac, download a compatibility program such as Mac's Bonjour.
Step 6: Install print driver Install the print driver for the printer on every computer that will be accessing the printer.
FACT: In 2004, nearly 3.2 million copier and printer cartridges were sent to Xerox for recycling.