skip to main text

Setting Up a Shared Printer

On the print server, set up sharing of the printer driver. Then from the client, set up the connection to the print server.

  1. Install the printer driver on the print server system

  2. Select as described below:

    • If you are using Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2012 R2, or Windows Server 2012, from the Desktop charms, select Settings -> Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound (Hardware) -> Devices and Printers
      The Devices and Printers window is displayed.
    • If you are using Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2, select the Start menu -> Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound (Hardware) -> Devices and Printers
      The Devices and Printers window is displayed.
    • If you are using Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008, select the Start menu -> Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Printers
      The Printers window is displayed.
    • If you are using Windows XP, select the start menu -> Control Panel -> Printers and Other Hardware -> Printers and Faxes
      The Printers and Faxes window is displayed.
    • If you are using Windows Server 2003 R2 or Windows Server 2003, select the start menu -> Printers and Faxes
      The Printers and Faxes window is displayed.

  3. Click the icon for the model name of printer to be shared

    • If you are using Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, or Windows Server 2008 R2, press the Alt key, and from the displayed File menu, select Printer properties -> Sharing tab.
    • If you are using Windows Vista, press the Alt key, and from the displayed File menu, select Run as administrator -> Sharing....
    • If you are using Windows XP, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003 R2, or Windows Server 2003, select Sharing... from the File menu.

    Important

    • In Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista, a confirmation/warning dialog box may appear when starting, installing or uninstalling software.
      This dialog box appears when administrative rights are required to perform a task.
      When you are logged on to an administrator account, click Yes (or Continue, Allow) to continue.
      Some applications require an administrator account to continue. In such cases, switch to an administrator account, and restart the operation from the beginning.

    Note

    • Windows XP may display a message recommending the user to use the Network Setup Wizard to set up sharing.
      When this message appears, choose not to use the wizard and then set up sharing.

  4. Set sharing

    On the Sharing tab, check (or select) Share this printer, set the shared name as necessary, and then click OK.

  5. If the print server and the client have different architectures (32 bit or 64 bit), install an additional driver

    1. Display the Devices and Printers, Printers, or Printers and Faxes window.
    2. Select as described below:
      • If you are using Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, or Windows Server 2008 R2, select the printer icon, click Print server properties, and select the Drivers tab
      • If you are using Windows Vista, press the Alt key, and from the displayed File menu, select Run as administrator -> Server Properties..., and select the Drivers tab
      • If you are using Windows XP, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003 R2, or Windows Server 2003, from the File menu, open Server Properties, and select the Drivers tab
    3. Click Add....
    4. When the Add Printer Driver Wizard window is displayed, click Next.
    5. If the print server has a 32-bit architecture, select x64. If the print server has a 64-bit architecture, select x86. Then click Next.
    6. Click Have Disk....
    7. In the Install From Disk window, open the "Driver" folder of the downloaded printer driver, specify the "inf" file, and click OK.
    8. Select the printer to be used, and click Next.

      Note

      • If an error message is displayed, select the other printer.
    9. Click Finish

    The setup on the print server system is complete. Next, set up the client systems.

  6. On the client, open Explorer, and double-click the icon of the printer to be shared

  7. Follow the window instructions, and install the printer driver

    The setup on the client system is complete.
    Even when you perform the setup on a different client, follow the same steps 6 and 7.