Network Printer: Installation, Setup, Possible Problems

In this topic, consider the situation when you need to connect the printer to two or more computers. How to do it? This issue is the most relevant for office institutions, where computers are calculated not two units, but a much more. Naturally, to save budget, when organizing jobs, no one equips them with individual printing devices. Just only one All-in-One Printer, capable of printing documents from several PC, and some knowledge in the field of network connections. But one thing when the network printer setting is made by qualified network administrators, and another personally at home. On how to connect the printer on the local network in the Windows environment, and what is necessary. further.

Statery Situation: Printer with a connection with one computer, which in turn is connected to the router (cable or wireless). You can print the document only from this device if the total access is not configured. If other computers, laptops are connected to the router and access, you can set the command to print the document from any PC. Already today, many models of printing facilities are able to directly communicate with the router. They are able to remotely print and connect to the network directly through the cable or by Wi-Fi.

For urgent printing, there is no need to keep PC enabled, the printer is always ready for work. Initially, Windows 10 had the ability to configure using a home group, but later this function was removed, and in the new versions of the operating system it simply no. But the task is easy to handle manually. Before switching to the description of the settings, it is important to understand some details:

• You should enable all local network devices.
• On a personal computer, to which the printing means is directly connected, all the necessary drivers must be installed, in one word, you can print the documents on it without any problems.
• Same groups and different computer names, the correct local network settings are met.

Practically does not matter whether other network devices work under the control of which operating system. For example, on a computer directly connected to the printer can be “dozen”, on the other machines the same “dozen”, “eight” or “seven”. Problems may arise from Windows XP, as the system has long lost the relevance and today it is found with a rare exception.

Printer connection options to two PC

To begin with, we will briefly focus on possible options for connecting the printing device to several computer terminals. Among all possible solutions, depending on the printing device model, the most common and most frequently used are the following methods:

• connection through a splitter;
• Using the printer on the local network;
• connection via router;
• Using printers equipped with Wi-Fi module.

Note: Sometimes you can find tips on how to access a remote “desktop”, organized using Windows-systems or third-party software, but this technique looks completely impractical and requires more settings.

Replies

It looks like it will do what you want: http: // www.ambery.COM / 2X2USB20ROSW.HTML Check the cross-routing circuit slightly down the page and take the second computer from the picture.

You may be lucky to connect and printers and their normal setup. Then try adding a third printer manually and select one of two physical printers as a port. When you need to switch the printers just switch the port on the virtual printer.

This will almost certainly not happen. If these printers have a built-in serial number (most likely), it does not matter what you do, Windows will detect that these are 2 different printers. First of all, try changing printers using the same USB port, and see what happens. If the system detects that these are different printers, the game is over.

This old new thing post explains some as Windows defines USB devices and why he does it as he does.

I recently decided this stupid problem with two identical laser printers and a box of Windows 7. In the end, I found enough details in my free time to make something and make it work. The junction box was the most difficult part of the equipment to find, cables that you can get from anywhere in the world, all of them came from different sites, because I am a crazy man and should better manage my time!

The cable from your switch box to your printers must be USB b to cable B (half-box / half-round end on each side: http: // www.DCABLES.NET / USB-B-TO-B-Cable-V2_0-6-FEET.ASPX I first tried to use the adapter a-in, and he worked, but he was a harp.

The cable coming from the junction box to the computer must be USB A to the cable. CDW has them, but the prevention of spam prevents me from laying 2 or more links.

I assume that the VID / PID of the printer is the same, but have different labels. If they are both connected, but turned off, devices are not detected. Therefore, just turn on one or another, and the driver will think that the printer simply came out in the offline mode, and then connects to another printer again. That always one further gets a label print request.

Now, if you want to get fantasies, find the power switch box that only allows the power to one device at the same time. Or go to the electronics store and make your own power switch (break before doing).

I have a box from compucable manufacturing group. It is called “iPeripheral”. Its 4 to one Mechanical USB Switch. (Detail number USB-ABCD). www.compucable.com. In this field, you can select one of 4 printers on one computer or connect one printer to 4 computers. It works great for print, but they forgot to twist the port cables inside the box, so it does not work for scanners or other high-speed devices, if they are not USB 1. better design and it can be a good product. It works great for all my printers. There are also several USB selector switches. They usually have a software that chooses one or another output. Some also have a button switch on a box that rejects the software. The button must be used with scanners. Printers can be used with SELECT or PUSH Button SELECT software.

Is there a good reason why you can not use Switchbox you mentioned on the contrary? Connecting two printers to double input and computer to single output. I can be wrong, but perhaps it is worth checking.

If the OS recognizes swap as disconnecting and connecting it back, then you are not lucky. But if the hub holds the port busy, making the hardware switch inside the switch, it can work.

It is very simple. When you connected the printers each to your USB ports see them as two different printers, and not the same. This means that when you go to print it ask, who is for printing and all you need to do is choose the printer you want to use. Despite the fact that these are the same printers made by the same company, Windows still recognizes them separately. So it really should not be any need, now if you use the older version of Windows, you would have to manually configure them, but it really is necessary only if the OS that you use does not support P-N-P. I have never seen the switch for USB, but I could do wrong. I hope it will help you.

Well, well, here is my question: if the software allows you to print only one by one, then why do you want to switch to another? You say when printing, you can print something from others or I don’t understand you correctly? Or are you trying to adjust the print label of two different sizes. You cannot make two separate printers similar to one in Windows, because Windows will always see them like two separate machines, just like Microsoft set it up, as well as its logic. You can always hack Windows and rewrite the entire OS! LOL.

Connect to different intees

Rarely, but the office equipment can constructively contain several connectors of different intees. It also allows you to connect a printer to two different computers that are not connected to the network. For example, there is a USB input and LPT connector. All the necessary connectors are usually always located on the rear panel PC.

So, you can take two suitable cables and connect to 2 computers with different intees.

With a laptop it is not done. Maximum that can be found on a laptop. these are several USB ports, HDMI and DVI outputs.

Connection methods

Connection options and additional devices used at the same time directly depend on the printing technology. So, if the printer is old and does not support the wireless connection, then connect the device with a computer is possible only with wires. The same applies to computers. On ordinary stationary devices there is no built-in Wi-Fi module, and, it means that the wires are the only possible connection of the equipment.

We recommend changing your device to more modern. Therefore, go on the link and look at good models of printers.

Of the available methods for creating a local network between computers and the printer allocate:

• connection through a splitter;
• Through an Ethernet connection with the network setup (one computer connects to the printer, and the second Internet cable with patch cord is connected by the second one);
• Laptops can connect at all without cords, if the Internet is distributed by a router;
• Print server.

Installation of drivers

Windows operating systems independently install drivers from its built-in base without user participation in this process. If this did not happen, the installation of software will have to manually. You can do this in several ways.

• Use the installation disk. Such a disc is equipped with any printing technique, regardless of its manufacturer. Insert such a disk in the “SD-ROM” and wait for the installation program launch. Next, follow the instructions of the installation wizard. If the printer is old or simply, you cannot find, then use one of the following ways.
• Download the package of the necessary files from the manufacturer of the device. On the official portal of the brand of your printer, go to the Drivers section or downloads. By title, find your model and download the necessary files under the version and “Bimity” of your OS.
• We are looking for Windows. Open the “Devices and Printers” section through the control panel. In the top menu, click the Printer Setup button.In the second step, select Local (if you connect via USB) or network (when using Wi-Fi) connection option. Act on the instructions of the installation wizard. After a few steps, you will see the driver installation window. In it, on the left, select the manufacturer of your device, on the right. model.
• We use Windows Update. To update the database of drivers for devices, you need to click the “Windows Update Center” button under the list of models in the screenshot above. After downloading all new software versions and restarts the laptop itself, you can see your printer in the list of models.

Case from office practice

complicate the task. Consider the situation when the printer is already connected to one of the computers via USB. But we must provide press access and another computer. This requires the creation of a direct local network between jobs. It is more common in small offices.

The basic condition of such a scheme is the availability of a network card in PC. In modern devices, it is present on all motherboards. But in old computers, still used for office activities, this moment should be tracked. Computers connect via patch cable. This is a twisted pair with conventional 8p8c network connectors.

What to do?

Now let’s go deep into the settings of each computer:

• Using the “Control Panel” or the Start Context menu, go to the Connection section and select the location item to create a local network;
• Right-click, activate the properties of this item and go to the TCP / IP Internet Protocol tab;
• Here, even in the properties, we register the IP address, which for one PC will be “192.168.0.1 “, and for another” 192.168.0.2 “. The subnet mask is everywhere indicated by the same “255.255.255.0 “;
• So that our printer somehow distinguished two PCs, it is necessary to give each of them the original name (better than Latin and without spaces). This is done in the “properties” “My Computer” on the “Computer Name” tab. Here you can install or change the name of the working group.

We are ready to work on a local network, but for the correct interaction between its components, you need to go to the settings of the home group (there is a network and the Internet) and open “Change Sharing Settings”. Here you must put the ticks opposite all authorization points. Now pay attention to the printer itself.

• On the computer to which it is directly connected, go to the “Devices and Printers” menu and locate our printing device. In its properties (using the right mouse button), go to “Access” and notify the provision of public access rights. If the printer’s name is too long, but you have only one, here you can change the name to a more concise (immediately write it down on paper, it can come in handy);
• On the second computer we need to install the printer. To do this, go to the menu with their overview, select “Add devices”. Ideally, Windows scans the entire network environment and displays the devices found, among which our printer should be. In this case, select it from the list and activate the automatic installation. Do not forget about the drivers.

The printer is not displayed

• If the laptop does not see the printer, it will have to be done manually. To do this, do not exit the device search window, click at the bottom item “The required printer is missing in search”. Here you choose “find a printer to the address” and write the following “\ IP of the main computer name of the printer” (here we need a note with his name).

You must find everything and your task will be the correct printer setting. By the way, I recommend using the described techniques for working with a local network and search for devices. Also they can come in handy in different options for connecting the printing device.

The above way is convenient for printing documents from different devices, but has a significant drawback. The computer to which the printer is connected must be turned on. This problem is eliminated if the printer has a built-in network card and connected as an autonomous network device.

The computer does not see the network printer, does not connect

On the side of the main computer (to which the printer is connected by the cable) is usually no problem. The main thing is that the drivers are installed, the system has detected the printer and was configured correctly according to the instructions above (the first part of the article).

But when connected to a common printer, other computers occur various problems and errors (0x00000002, 0x00000006, “Access is prohibited”, the computer does not see the printer and T.D.). Usually all these problems are associated with sharing settings, printer drivers or firewall (antivirus).

The computer does not see the printer on the local network

This problem is rare. As a rule, the reason is that on the computer (or on both computers to which the printer is glued and from which you are trying to connect) disabled network detection and sharing. In this article I wrote several times as and where to insert it all. If your problem is that the printer (or other computers on your local network) is not displayed in the network adapter, check the sharing settings on both computers.

about this, I wrote in the article General folders, network computers, flash drives, drives are not displayed in the “Network” tab of the Windows Explorer.

He also temporarily stops the antivirus or its built-in firewall.

Error “Windows failed to connect to the printer. Access denied”

The error code may be different: 0x00000057, 0x00000002, 0x0000000a, 0x00000006, 0x000000214, 0x0000007E, etc. Usually appears when connecting and configuring a network printer.

• Check the exchange parameters in Windows 10 settings. I wrote about this above.
• Disconnect the antivirus / firewall on the computer to which the printer is connected.
• Check the allowed programs in the fayer settings. There must be “sharing files and printers”, and a check mark should stand next to “personal” (if you use this profile).You can try to disable at all. This item “Shared files and printers”.
• You can try to disable digital driver signature check.
• If the name of your computer is written by Russian letters, change it in the properties of the system. Write the computer name in English letters.

Possible problems and their decision

We will analyze some of the most frequent problems that may occur during the configuration and use of the network printer.

Network printer is not displayed in the available

So, you have connected the printer according to the instructions, approached another computer, but when you try to print, do not see the network device. What’s the matter?

Usually this problem is caused by the fact that the PC from which you are trying to print something, not connected to the local network. Make sure that:

• It is connected to the same router via Wi-Fi or cable;
• router is included;
• The names of the working group of all your computers in the network coincide. In Windows 7, this can be done by pressing the right button to “My Computer” and selecting “Properties”. In windows 8, 8.1 and 10. right-click on “Start”, and then. “Computer Management”. You will see the name of the computer and the name of the working group. The first parameter should differ in all PC connected to the network, and the second. on the contrary, the coincidence. If this is not the case, select one name for the working group and assign it to all computers on the network.

Sometimes the problem with the display of the network printer is related to port malfunctions. Make sure that the USB port and the printer itself, and the devices to which it is connected do not have physical defects. are not broken and do not bend.

Network printer does not print

If the network printer is displayed in the list available, you can connect to it, but the printing process does not go, you need to carry out a small diagnosis. Look, is there any error messages on the printer itself. You will be surprised, but often such a problem is explained by the lack of paper in the tray or paint in the cartridge.

If no messages are displayed at the printer itself, and the documents sent to print simply go into emptiness, then the reason will most likely lift in the drivers:

• If you connect the printer via a print server, then once again deposit the list of devices supported by them. Most likely, your printing device model simply does not fit. If you bought a print server recently, you can try to return it to the store or exchange to another model;
• If the connection is conducted via the router, make sure that the printer drivers are on the PC you are interested in. This can be done by connecting the printer to it directly. If printing does not pass and with such a connection, you need to update or completely reinstall drivers. If, with a direct connection, the printer prints, then the problem can be wounded in the firmware of the router. If you updated it quite recently, roll back to the previous version (just install the older firmware version by downloading it on the manufacturer’s website);
• If the printer is connected via PC, you only need to check the drivers on this computer. Make sure that directly from this PC printing goes. If it is not so, demolished and install the drivers again.

Reinstalling drivers is done like this:

• Download the latest version of drivers for your version of Windows on the official website of the printer manufacturer. Drivers are usually located in the “software” section, “Support” or “Download”. Make sure the driver swing for your printer model.
• Go to “Device Manager”. In Windows 7, you need to click on the right mouse button on “My Computer” and select the appropriate item. In windows 8, 8.1 and 10. click right-click on “Start” and select “Device Manager”.

From this context menu you can access many administrator utilities and programs

Network printer does not connect

If you try to connect to a network printer or print any help with it, you have an error “Windows cannot connect to a network printer”, it usually indicates a print service shutdown. This may occur for various reasons. failure when installing drivers, viral software.

In Windows 10, an error message looks somewhat different, but the text does not change

• If the printer is connected to LAN through PC, then all the actions below do it on it. If the router or print server, then on the computer from which we want to print.
• Open the Control Panel (Windows 7. Start. “Control Panel”, Windows 8, 8.1, 10. PCM “Start”. “Control Panel”).
• Select “Services”.
• Find in the “Print Manager” list.
• Click on it twice. the parameter window opens.
• Check the box opposite “Automatic Start Type”.
• Make sure the service is enabled. If you can click on the “Enable” button, do it.

Setting up a network printer can take a little time, but in the future you will be grateful to yourself for the work done. After all, much more convenient to send documents to print directly from the workplace, rather than dragging the files to another computer, and only after that print.