Connecting Devices to Your Computer" in Chapter 8.
When you connect a printer to your computer, Windows often recognizes the device and searches its extensive collection of built-in drivers to run printers. A
printer driver is software that lets programs send commands to a particular printer. If your printer doesn't appear on Windows' built-in list, you can use the driver on the CD or floppy that came with the printer. If you upgraded from an earlier Windows version, XP inherited the existing printer driver and settings, and your printer may work fine. In any case, check the printer manufacturer's web site for a more recent driver.
Setting up User Accounts" in Chapter 16.
Turn off your PC before connecting or disconnecting a parallel or serial cable. (Your PC can remain on for USB, Bluetooth, and infrared connections.)
Skim the manual before installation. Some manufacturers supply software to be used instead of Windows' Add Printer Wizard.
Installing Plug and Play Devices" in Chapter 8.
To install a local printer:
1. Connect your printer to the appropriate port, and turn on the printer.
On the Windows desktop, one of these three things happens:
A Found New Hardware alert appears (Figure 7.1 ), meaning that Windows knows about your printer and has installed the appropriate driver. You're ready to print; skip the rest of these steps.
The Add Printer Wizard appears, meaning that Windows detected the printer but lacks a driver for this model. Skip to step 7.
Windows didn't detect the printer and does nothing. Continue to step 2.
2. Choose Start > Control Panel > Printers and Other Hardware > Printers and Faxes.
3. In the task pane, click Add a Printer (Figure 7.2 ).
The Add Printer Wizard opens.
4. On the Welcome page, click Next (Figure 7.3 ).
5. On the Local or Network Printer page, select Local Printer Attached to This Computer; uncheck Automatically Detect and Install My Plug and Play Printer; then click Next (Figure 7.4 ).
6. On the Select a Printer Port page, select a port from the list (Figure 7.5 ); then click Next.
LPT port and a serial port as a
COM port.
In almost all cases, LPT1 (the default) is the correct port.
7. On the Install Printer Software page, select the manufacturer and model of your printer; then click Next (Figure 7.6 ).
or
If your printer model isn't listed, insert the printer's installation CD or floppy; click Have Disk; then follow the onscreen instructions to install your printer.
(If Windows refuses your installation disk, download the current printer driver from the printer manufacturer's web site.)
8. On the Name Your Printer page, type a name for your printer or accept the default name; indicate whether this printer is the one that you'll usually or always print with (the default); then click Next (Figure 7.7 ).
9. On the Printer Sharing page, select Do Not Share This Printer; then click Next (Figure 7.8 ).
10. On the Print Test Page page, choose Yes to print a test page; then click Next (Figure 7.9 ).
11. On the completion page, click Finish (Figure 7.10 ).
12. In the pop-up confirmation dialog box, click OK if the test page printed or Troubleshoot if it didn't (Figure 7.11).
After successful installation, the printer's icon appears in the Printers and Faxes window (Figure 7.12).
You can install multiple drivers with different settings for the same physical printer and then switch among these "virtual" printers easily to suit what you're printing. If your printer has two paper trays, create "Letterhead" and "Plain" printers; to switch between printing high-resolution graphics and low-res text documents, create "1200 dpi" (dots per inch) and "300 dpi" printers. Separate "Landscape" and "Portrait" printers are popular too. To create another printer:
1. Install the printer a second time, but under a different name that indicates its purpose (see step 8).
2. After installation, right-click the printer's icon in the Printers and Faxes window (refer to Figure 7.12), choose Printing Preferences; then select the settings appropriate to its role.
3. In the Printers and Faxes window, right-click the icon for the printer that you use most of the time; then choose Set As Default Printer. (This command appears only when you right-click a printer that isn't already the default.)
A check mark appears on the default printer's icon.
From now on you can choose the appropriate printer in any program's Print dialog box. See "Printing Documents" later in this chapter.
Managing Fonts" in Chapter 4.
To put a Printers and Faxes shortcut in the Start menu, see "Using the Start Menu" in Chapter 2.
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