How To Connect A Printer To A Computer? How To Set Up Over The Network And Add To Multiple PCs? How To Install From The Installation Disk, Print Setup

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 05:33

In the age of high technology, the personal computer has become an integral part of every home. Modern PC models are complemented by many other useful components, for example, printers from various well-known manufacturers. In use, such equipment demonstrates itself to be simple and very convenient. In this article, we will analyze in detail how to properly connect the printer to the computer and how to correctly configure the technique.

Basic Rules

There is nothing difficult in connecting the printer to a personal computer. Each user can easily figure out this process, the main thing is follow a number of basic rules . Let's take a look at them in order.

Before you rush to connect the printer to your PC, you need to think in advance where all the devices will be placed . Prepare and free up enough space to install the printing device in advance. It is advisable to set it up so that it is as close to the computer as possible.

The main criterion in this matter is the length of the cord.

It should fit freely between the equipment without creating excessive tension.

If the printer is connected to a personal computer using a wireless network, you need to make sure that the 2 devices stand next to each other … If you do not follow this simple rule, the signal will not be reliable and will be interrupted, or it will not be possible to establish it at all.

When connecting the printer with a wired method, you must make sure that at this moment the computer equipment is turned on . If you do not pay attention to this, you will not be able to print this or that image.

Before starting the connection, the user must be sure to take into account the fact that the connection of equipment to the Windows or MacOS operating system will be different.

In some cases antivirus program , installed on your PC may block the connection of a new device. In such a situation, the user will have no choice but to disable the antivirus. If after these steps the situation still has not changed, it is recommended to check the equipment for active viruses.

Before setting up your printer, always check all cables are connected correctly if you turned to the wired sync method. Pay attention to whether you have installed everything correctly, so that later you do not have to "rack your brains" over what makes it impossible to properly connect the equipment.

The main rule that the user should not forget about is preliminary check of computer equipment for all necessary programs and drivers . Without them, it will be almost impossible to connect the equipment, and a lot of difficulties will arise with its adjustment.

After connecting the printer to a personal computer, make sure that the latter boots up to the end . - this usually takes a little extra time.

If you follow these simple rules, there should be no problems and difficulties with installing and configuring the printer. The main thing is to take into account all the features of these procedures in relation to specific models of equipment and the operating system installed on your computer.

Connection methods

There are several different ways to connect the printer to a personal computer. Each of them implies its own algorithm of actions . We will understand each stage of all possible methods.

Wired

Many people choose the wired method of connecting the printer to a personal computer. The workflow for Windows and Mac OS will be different. Let's figure it out in both cases. Let's take a step by step how to connect a printer to a computer with a Windows operating system using a cable.

Choose the most convenient and suitable location for all components in your workplace. Make sure that the wire is not taut.

Next, you need to carefully connect the printer to a power source using a network cable. Turn on the equipment . Usually the start button is located on the front of the panel and has a standard marking.

Further start the personal computer . Wait until the equipment is fully loaded and is in full working order.

Take a USB cable . With the help of it you need connect the computer and the new printer.

If the printer model you have chosen assumes automatic configuration of the required systems, then the technique must tune on its own , without your intervention. The PC itself recognizes the connected device, after which the printer will be ready in just a couple of minutes for further work.

If automatic tuning is not provided by the technique, you will need to do it manually.

The wired connection of such equipment to a computer with the Mac OS operating system will be different.

First, you need to check if all the necessary programs and applications are installed on a computer with an operating system from Apple.

As in all other cases, it is important to allocate optimal places for the equipment, where it will be convenient to use it and without unnecessary obstacles.

Connect the printer to a power source, start the equipment . Start your personal computer, wait until the system boots to the end and is ready for further work.

Connect the computer and printer using a special cable … If your PC does not have standard connectors, you will need to purchase a suitable adapter … It is advisable to take care of the availability of this component in advance.

When the computer recognizes the new connected device, the standard display appears on the monitor. dialog window … Then the user can go to the direct setting up devices.

Wireless

It is considered convenient to connect the printer to a PC via a wireless network. As in the previous case, equipment will connect to operating systems of different types in different ways. Consider first, how you can organize a wireless connection to Windows.

Start the printer … If necessary, connect it to router via a special internet cable. Most often this is required for the initial configuration of the equipment. Some printer models natively support a wireless connection.

In the operating instructions, you can search for how this or that model connects to the network. Some devices first needs to be connected directly to the PC . If the printer is able to independently connect to wireless networks, then you will need to use the menu that opens on the screen to find the desired access point, and the next step is to enter a password and bind it to this connection.

If your printer is Wi-Fi capable, you can simply find a network to which the computer is already connected, and then enter the security code. To make a connection via Bluetooth, you can only find and press the pairing button of the equipment. After that, it is possible to proceed to setting up the technique.

Let's take a look at how to wirelessly connect a printer to a Mac OS operating system

Install the printer in the place where the signal is better router.

Start the device output and PC, wait until the hardware is fully loaded.

Connect to your network , starting from the features of the operation of a particular model of equipment. Enter the security key. Select the same access point as for the PC. If using a Bluetooth network, you must press the pairing button.

It is also possible to share the printer with a PC.

Connect 2 devices together with cable . Connect them to the network . After launching the machines, click on the "Start" button, go to the "Settings" tab, and then "Network and Sharing Management".

Click on the Status, Sharing Options, Home or Work button.

Check the box next to the "Turn on file and printer sharing" entry. Then you can proceed to connect from any home computer.

A properly made LAN connection is often used in various organizations and offices. This is a very convenient solution in which the connection of different items of equipment can be carried out on one device.

How do I set up my printer correctly?

Let's take a look at how to properly set up your printer when wired to a Windows PC

If necessary manual settings, connecting the printer, open the "Start" menu. Select "Devices and Printers".

Next, select the "Add device" command to add the connected equipment.

Search for new hardware. Wait until the required technique is found. Click on the name of the printer you connected.

Click on the "Next" button. Then follow the instructions displayed on the screen. Install the drivers from the installation disc, if necessary.

Setting up equipment in the case of a Mac OS system will be like this

Connect the printer to your PC. As soon as he recognizes it, a dialog box will appear on the screen, the user must click on the "Install" button.

Wait for the process to complete.

Sometimes in the dialog box you have to click on the permission of actions several times.

This completes the equipment setup, you can proceed to direct printing.

If the connection was made wirelessly, further configuration on the Windows operating system will be as follows

Open the "Start" menu, go to the "Printers and Devices" section, add the installed equipment, finding it in the list of detected ones.

Then you will need to click on the "Add" or "Allow" button next to the name of your printer.

Then you can use the connected and configured equipment for further printing.

In the case of Apple's OS, the setup procedure will be as follows

Open the Start menu on your computer (you will need to click the button with the apple sign in the upper left corner). Go to system settings.

Open the "Printers and Scanners" section. Click on the "+" button. Select the name of your printer. Add a technique based on the readings of the system. Usually the printer itself is highlighted in the list of possible means, then additional configuration steps are not required.

Recommendations

If you need to install all the necessary drivers suitable for the printer model you have chosen, it is not necessary to use the disc that usually comes with the equipment. You can go to the official website of the manufacturer (under the brand name of which the device was released), download the required file from there and then install the drivers on the computer … This is a convenient solution.

It so happens that you cannot connect the printer to the computer using USB wires due to the fact that it is too tight, or due to incorrect connection of the equipment. In this case, you can try to disconnect and reconnect the equipment. It is worth paying attention to the health of the computer's USB connector - for this, you can try to connect another gadget to it.

If the connection of equipment using a USB cable does not work as it should, you can try move it to another port … Perhaps this will fix the problem.

Often this problem is caused by the fact that the drivers installed on the PC are already out of date.

… In this case, the user should update them .… To do this, you can visit the official website of the manufacturer of the equipment.

Sometimes the computer and printer cannot synchronize properly due to incompatibility of systems . In order not to face such a problem, the user must carefully and carefully read all the characteristics and parameters of the selected equipment before purchasing. As a rule, the accompanying technical documentation always indicates which systems the printer can work with.

If the technique suddenly stopped working correctly, and you cannot independently understand what the cause of such problems is, you should not resort to unnecessary experiments. It is best to visit the appropriate service center with the equipment . Self-repair and diagnosis of such a technique can only aggravate the situation. If the printer is still under warranty, doing so will void your warranty service.

When connecting the printer to your computer with a wired method, be sure to in normal cable condition . He should not be frowning, show serious damage, torn insulation. If such problems occur, the connection of equipment may be ineffective. Then you will have to use the second one - a high-quality wire without damage.

By setting drivers to configure the printer, you will need to reboot your personal computer. This applies to both downloaded and programs written to the system disk.

On sale you can find many modern and easy-to-use printers equipped with a special WPS activation button . It must be pressed, and then held for a long time. After that, the computer independently "learns" which equipment is connected to it

Connecting equipment using cables , you must act carefully.

Do not insert or remove wires too roughly, even if you are in a hurry.

Doing so can damage both cables and important connectors on both the printer and the computer

When using such devices, it is advisable to keep at hand manual . In this case, it will not be difficult to figure out all the features of connecting and setting up a certain printer model, and it will be limited to just a few minutes. Even if it seems to you that you can easily do without instructions, it is still better to look into it - this is where you can find all the nuances and features of the technique.