This article describes how to install a printer on a computer running Windows Vista. This article is specifically about installing Window Print Services-based printers. OIT is currently migrating all printers from a Unix-based LPR product to Windows Print Services. By Fall term 2009 we expect all printers to be converted to Windows Print Services.
- For more info for setting up Windows Print Services printing on other operating systems please see this article.
- For more information on the migration to Windows Print Services or directions to install a printer not yet converted (LPR directions), please see Additional Information.
- If you are having problems with a windows printer you have already setup please skip down to the Troubleshooting portion of the article.
- A computer running Windows Vista (Business)
- A computer connected to the campus network, i.e., the computer must be "joined" to the domain and you must be using your Odin account to login to the machine.
- The name of the printer you are trying to connect to, e.g., "USS2" or "geog-color"
- Click on the Start button.
- Click on the icon called Control Panel in the Start Menu.
- Now the Control Panel should be open, to proceed double-click on the Printers icon.
- The Control Panel window will shift to the Printers window. At the top of the window there will be a tool-bar with an icon called Add a printer, click on this icon to proceed.
Note: If you do not have the above icon in your Printer window you can also add a printer by right-clicking anywhere in the white area of the window and selecting the Add printer option from the drop-down context window.
- After clicking on Add a printer you will be presented with a new window with two options. We want to select the Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer option.
- The window will shift again and you will see a list of printers plus a button that says The printer I want isn't listed. The list of printers will never contain your printer so select The printer I want isn't listed and proceed to the next step.
- Click the radio-button next to Find a printer in the directory, based on location or feature, then click Next to proceed.
- In the Find Printers window that pops-up, click into the field titled Name: and type the name of the printer you are trying to add. Click the Find now button.
Note: If your printer does not come up, make sure under the in field at the top you are searching the Entire Directory
- Your printer (and any similarly named) printers should appears in the results section of the Find Printers windows. Either double-click or highlight and click OK to add the printer.
NOTE:If there are multiple choices pick the one that matches the name you typed in exactly. In my example I searched for USS2 which is listed. You will select the printer you want to add from the list and then click OK to continue. If the printer is not appearing, try removing characters from the end of the name. and hitting Find Now again to search again.
- A status bar telling you windows is trying to connect to your printer will appear. It will look similar to the one below but USS2 will be replaced with the name of your printer.
- After the status bar finishes, you will be back at the Add Printer window. Here you will be able to select whether you want your newly installed printer as your default printer, by checking or not checking the Set as the default printer box, then click next to proceed.
- The Add Printer window will shift again. From here you will test your printer. Click the Print Test Page button. Then click Finish.
- Go check the printer and you should see a windows test page in it's output tray. If no test page has printed out proceed to the Troubleshooting portion of this article to figure out your problem.
- You have now finished installing your printer
If you have followed the above steps and are still not able to print there are a few things to check.
- Do you have the name of the printer right? Check with another user in the office who has the same printer. Some of the printers should be labeled with their names or you can also talk to your office coordinator or area techie who might know the correct name.
- Have you tried to completely removing and re-adding the printer? To remove the printer right-click on it, select Delete from the drop down menu. Once it is a gone proceed back to the begnining of this article and make sure to double check you have done all of the steps as listed.
- If you have the right name but still can’t print, check with your coworkers to see if they are having any trouble, if it is localized to you, please proceed to the Further Assistance portion of the article.
- Remember that WPS printers are user-based objects. Every individual user will have to add the printer under their own profile.
- Technical administators or others interested in seeing a list of the printers that have been converted to the Windows Print Services so far please go to this website and login with your odin credentials.
- To see a list of Printers currently in process for conversion from LPR to WPS please check this article.
If you are still having problems getting your printer installed yourself please collect the following information:
- The name of the printer you are trying to connect to
- The reasons you cannot connect to the printer, i.e., error messages, etc.
- Any other pertinent information IE coworkers can or cannot print, when problem began, steps you've already tried.
