This article describes how to install a printer on a computer running Windows XP. 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 XP (Home or Professional)
- 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 Printers and Faxes.
Note: If you do not have the Printer and Faxes icon in your start menu, you can also access it through. Start -> Control Panel -> Printers and Faxes.
- In the top left hand corner of the Printer and Faxes window you should see a blue box titled Printer Tasks; click the Add a printer link to begin the Add Printer Wizard.
Note: If you do not have the above box in your Printer and Faxes 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.
- At the first prompt of the Add Printer Wizard click the Next button.
- Click the round, radio-button next to A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer. Click Next to proceed.
- Click the radio-button next to Find a printer in the directory, 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.
- 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.
- If all went well you should be looking at the last screen of the Add Printer Wizard. Click Finish so we can test your printer.
- You will now be back to the Printers and Faxes window, if not, follow step 1 to reopen it. You will now see the printer you just installed listed in the window (along with anything previously installed). Right click on the printer you just installed and from choose Properties.
- The properties window for your printer will appear that allows you access to some of the basic functions of your printer. When it opens it will start you on the General tab. At the bottom right of this tab, click the Print Test Page button.
- You will receive a message that a test page was sent to the printer, hit Okay to close this window. 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.
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 part of the article.
- Finally if you are trying to add a printer and a login window like the one below pops up, try your ODIN account in the provided fields.
- If after you have entered your ODIN username and password and get the error message below, it means that you are not allowed access to this printer. To have this fixed you will need to contact the Help Desk and submit a request to find out why you do not have access. Please make sure you have the name of the printer you are trying to add and your ODIN username when you call the Help Desk at 503.725.HELP(4357).
- 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, IE, error messages, etc.
- Any other pertinent information, IE coworkers can or cannot print, when problem began, steps you've already tried.
After you have this please be at the computer you are having problems pritning to and call the heldesk at 503.725.HELP(4357)
