How to Share Folders and Printers on Your Network

Accessing Shared Printers

To print on a printer located on another computer on your network, first you will have to install it on your computer. To do that, go to Start, Settings, Printers and Faxes, Add a printer (first item on the left column). Click Next on the first screen that will appear and, on the second screen, select “A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer”.

Figure 14: Installing a network printer.

Click on Next and you will see three options. Select the first option, “Browse for a printer”, to locate the shared printer. Then click on Next.

Figure 15: Installing a network printer.

On the next screen you should browse your network in order to locate the printer you wish to install on your computer. Click on Next and answer Yes to the question this wizard will ask.

Figure 16: Installing a network printer.

On the next screen you will be asked if you want to set the network printer as the default printer for your computer. If your computer has no other printer attached, you should answer Yes. Then click on Next and, on the next screen, Finish.

Figure 17: Making the network printer the default printer on this computer.

After these steps the network printer will be installed on your computer. Using it is very simple, as you will use just like if it were a printer physically installed on your computer, being accessible from all your programs.

Figure 18: Network printer after being installed on your computer.