Windows XP Network Printer Setup

These instructions describe a basic TCP/IP setup. If the printer is being hosted or served through another PC, these instructions do not apply.

Change the Start menu to the Classic menu style

  1. Right-click the Windows Start menu and click Properties.

  2. Choose Classic Start menu and then click OK. (You can change back to the other menu style, if you prefer, after installing the TCP/IP network printer.)

    Start menu properties

Windows XP TCP/IP printer setup instructions

  1. Click the Windows Start menu and click Settings > Printers and Faxes.

  2. Under the Printer Tasks heading, click Add a printer.

    printers and faxes control panel

  3. When the Welcome to the Add Printer Wizard window is displayed, click Next to continue.

    Add Printer Wizard welcome page

  4. When prompted to select which type of printer to set up, enter the following information and then click Next to continue:
    • Local printer attached to this computer: selected.
    • Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer: unchecked

    select local or network printer

  5. When prompted to select a printer port, enter the following information and then click Next to continue:
    • Create a new port: selected
    • Type of port: Standard TCP/IP Port

    select a printer port

  6. When the Welcome to the Add Standard TCP/IP Printer Port Wizard window is displayed, click Next to continue.

    add standard TCP/IP printer port wizard welcome page

  7. In the Printer Name or IP Address field, enter your printer IP address. The Port Name is filled in automatically. Click Next to continue.

    add a port

  8. Click Finish to close the Add Standard TPC/IP Printer Port Wizard.

    complete the add standard TCP/IP printer port wizard

  9. Select the manufacturer and printer model number of your printer. Then, click Next.

    install printer software page

  10. If you see a window saying that a printer driver is already installed, choose to keep the existing driver unless you are having problems. If you are having problems, replace the existing driver.

    use or replace the existing driver

  11. Enter a name for this printer. It will help you later if you include the type of driver in the name, such as pcl, pcl 6, or ps (for post script). If you want this to be your default printer click Yes; otherwise click No. Then, click Next to continue.

    assign a name to this printer

  12. Click Do not share this printer and then click Next to continue.

    printer sharing

  13. Click Yes to print a test page to confirm that your printer is installed properly; otherwise click No. Click Next to continue.

    print test page

  14. Click Finish.

    complete the Add Printer wizard

  15. Optional: If you changed your menu style to Classic Start menu at the beginning of this procedure and want to return to your original menu style, right-click the Windows Start menu and click Properties. Choose Start menu and then click OK.