For entrepreneurs and small business owners, computer costs can add up. One way to keep costs down is to have multiple computers share one printer. Adding shared printers also saves time. Now you won't have to upload files onto jump drives or send e-mails to coworkers to get files printed. Simply add printers to your Windows Vista and print out your documents from your own PC. Read the steps listed below and learn about how to add a shared printer with Windows Vista.
- Click on Start, the button located at the bottom left corner of your computer screen.
- Select Control Panel from the menu bar. A window entitled Control Panel will open up on your screen.
- Double click on Network and Sharing Center. A new window will open.
- Make sure Printer sharing is on. This option is located in the middle of the screen. If the printer sharing is off, click on the arrow button. An expanded section of options will appear underneath. Select Turn on printer sharing and click on Apply. A new window will open entitled User Account Control.
- Grant permission to add a shared printer by clicking Continue in the User Account Control window. Different computers will now be able to access your printer and print files and images for themselves. Remember that both computers must be on the same network to share a printer [source: Microsoft].
- Check that you have properly set up your shared printer by clicking on Start.
- Right click on network.
- Select Properties from the dropdown menu. The Network and Sharing Center window will again open.
- Click on the link entitled Show me all the shared network folders on this computer, located at the bottom of the window. If your printer is on the list that comes up, you have properly added a shared printer [source: IU].
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