A printer is one of those devices that "accompanies" every computer device, and many users want to know how to connect the printer correctly to the computer, considering that it is quite difficult to do this. Some time ago, this procedure was really not the easiest, but today everything is different. And you yourself can easily cope with this task.
Connecting the printer to a PC: methods, features
Consider three ways you can make connecting the printer to a PC, namely:
1) connection with a USB cable to install a local printer;
2) network connection of the printer by IP address;
3) connection to a printer installed on another PC.
Connecting a Printer Using a USB Cable
When you unpack and set up the printer next to your computer device, immediately connect the USB cable to it - the end where the plug looks like a simple USB input plugged into the computer. Connect the other end of the cable to your PC. Then proceed as follows.
1) Go to the "Control Panel" and select the "Devices and Printers" section there. You will see a list of all devices that are connected to your PC.
2) On the panel at the top, click on the line "Add printer". A window will open in which you need to select the type of printer you are connecting. Since this is a USB device in our case, select Local Printer.
3) Mark the point "Use the next port" with a dot and click on the field with the names of free ports for connection. Select the name "USB001" from the list that opens.
4) The next step is to select a driver for the connected device. In the list with the name "Publisher" find the name of the manufacturer (for example, Canon), and in the list "Printers" find the model itself (for example, Canon LBP5960).
If you cannot find the name of your device, you will need to download the driver and install it manually. Download the driver on the official website, then click on the line "Install from disk ...", specify the path of the downloaded driver and confirm the action by clicking on the "OK" button. Then check the box "Replace the existing (current) driver" and click on the "Next" button. Now do this:
1) Specify the name of your printer, after which its installation and configuration starts.
2) Pay attention to the item "Sharing settings for home PC": if you are at home, cancel sharing, if you work in the office - you can open it to be able to connect to printer and print to it from multiple PCs.
3) Check the box "Use default printer" and click on the "Finish" button.
If you did everything correctly, then, looking in the "Device Panel", you will find your "freshly connected" printer there.
Connecting a network printer
In order to install network printerconnected to the Internet, click the "Add Printer" button and select "Local Printer". Only in this case you need to check the "Create a new port" item and then select its type - "Standard TCP / IP Port".
You will see two fields: in the first, specify the IP address of the printer, in the second - the name of the port so that it can be identified later.
Your further actions will be the same as in the first case, when the connection was made via a USB cable:
1) select the driver (or install it manually),
2) allow (or deny) general access,
3) mark the printer as primary,
4) close the window by clicking on the "Finish" button.
Connecting to the printer from another PC
It often happens that there are several computers and the user of each of them needs to print. Here is just one printer. How to proceed in this case? It's very simple - connect the printer from another PC over the network and send a print job to it from any network device. More precisely, the task will first go to the PC to which the printer is connected, and from there it will be sent to the device.
To print over a network, it is imperative that the printer be shared. To do this, go to the "Properties" of the printer, go to the item "Access" and there tick the box for opening access, specifying the network name (for example, it can be Xerox WC 5010). Click on "Apply" to save the settings.
Next, on all PCs that you want to connect, go to "Devices and Printers" and click on the line "Install a printer". Again, select "Local Printer" and create a new port - "Local Port".
A window will open in front of you where you will need to register the full path to the printer, that is, specify the name of the computer and the network name of the printer. It may look like this: \\\\ AndreyPB \\ Xerox WC 5010. Here AndreyPB is the name of the PC to which you want to connect, and Xerox WC 5010 is the name of the printer (you specified it when you shared it). Then do the following:
1) click on "OK";
2) substitute your printer driver, for which: 1) click on the line "Install from disk"; 2) specify the path to the folder where the downloaded driver is located;
3) select the default printer;
4) close the installation window.
As you can see connect the printer to the computernot difficult at all and you can easily handle it.
In most cases, when buying a printer, drivers are provided for it. If you have lost them or scratched the disc, and you need to use the device urgently, then you need to look for a way out of the situation. Many users are starting to wonder how to install a printer without a disc. This is more than real, and there is nothing difficult here. The key is to be patient and have a USB cable at your disposal.
Some general information
The fact is that most users, even if they are not beginners, naively believe that installation without a special disk is impossible, but this is a fundamentally wrong point of view. Moreover, there are several ways that you can use. The easiest is to use the internet, if available. You need to go to the official website of your printer developer and find the latest drivers for it. Then download them to your computer. And since the printer is not difficult in the future, then you yourself will figure it out. You just need to follow the instructions and restart your computer at the end. For now, let's talk about how to install the printer in one of the ways discussed below. Everything about everything will take no more than 10 minutes.
without disk for Windows XP
Go to the Start menu. If you are using the Windows XP operating system, then you need to go to the "Control Panel" and select "Printers and Other Hardware". A new window will appear in front of you, here we need the "Printers and Faxes" tab. The next step is to go to the section "Printing Tasks", "Add Printer Wizard". In the window that appears, you need to start the installation, for this, just click on the item "Printer Installation". After that, the process will start, maybe you will still need to click on "Install a local printer", if the system suggests it. Since installing a Canon or HP printer is quite simple, and the process is completely similar, you should not have any problems with this. For now, let's see how these steps are performed for other operating systems.
How to install a printer: Windows 8, Vista and 7
Go to "Start", here on the right side of the window that opens, you will see a tab called "Devices and Printers", which we need. We go along it and see the button "Add printer". After that, the process is similar to that described above, with the only difference being that there is a wireless installation option. To do this, you must have either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Since it is much easier to install the printer on a laptop in this way, it is recommended to use it. First you need to select the printer connection port, and then its model and go further. You need to come up with a name for the device, after which the installation will start automatically. To check if everything worked out, print a test page. If all is well, congratulations - you know how to install a Canon, HP or any other printer without the necessary software.
Another good method
As already noted, if for some reason the method that we described above does not suit you, then use the alternative option. To do this, go to the developer's site. This could be Canon, HP, Epson, and so on. You need to find a page with the latest drivers for your device. As a rule, they are located on the support tab, where it is recommended that you follow. Now all that remains is to find the required driver and install it. There is one small nuance here: it is necessary to take into account the capacity (bitness) of the system. So, there are drivers for x32 (x86) and x64 systems. To find out what you need, right-click on "My Computer", then "Properties" and there you will see the necessary information. Since it is not difficult to install drivers on the printer further, just follow the instructions of the installer. Restart your computer and you're done.
A little about how to install the driver from disk
Some users, especially beginners, cannot understand the disc. In principle, this is quite normal, since there is a bunch of additional software that you are unlikely to use, you do not have to install it. After you insert the disc into the drive, it will start and you will be prompted to select a package that will automatically install. You have the choice of partial or complete installation. It is recommended to give preference to the first option, and now we will tell you why. The fact is that by installing the entire package, you will have a lot of unnecessary programs that you will hardly ever use. These are both instructions for use, and a utility that allows you to view photos, by the way, is not the most convenient, etc. Do not forget to connect the printer and then start it, only after that the installation will be completed. Reboot the system and you can use it.
About installing HP printers
It is worth considering the process of installing a device from this manufacturer. This is due to the fact that there are several important points that can drive you into a dead end. In principle, how to install a printer without a disk is clear, but sometimes, even having a driver for HP, it is very difficult to do it. In the first stages, everything is done by simply pressing the "Next" button. When you are prompted to select the type of connection, check the box next to "Via network, network, wireless network". This is only needed when the installer himself has not found the parameters he needs. Please note that the name may differ depending on the driver. It so happens that you need the printer to be available on several computers in the office. To implement this, you must turn on the device, then the software will detect it, and everything will be configured automatically. If the search on the net was successful, then everything was done correctly. In the event that the printer cannot be found, it is recommended to perform an advanced search by the IP address assigned to the device. This is where we end. It remains only to reboot the system, and you can work. If something went wrong, it is best to contact the support service on the developer's official website. Since the installation of the HP printer may not work for other reasons, you need to print a log file or send a bug report to the developers.
Some more alternative methods
We have already covered several good ways above, which are effective anyway. However, if for some reason they do not suit you, then there are several more options for solving the problem. Proceed as follows. Connect the USB cable to the printer and plug it into the port. The search for the printer starts. Then click "The printer that I want is not in the list of found". A new dialog box will open in front of you, in which there will be several illustrative examples of how to register the device address. When you do this, then click "Next". It so happens that the program displays the following: "There is no driver" or "The driver could not be found." Do not panic. In this case, it is recommended to first click "OK", and then specify the correct file search path. Of course, you must first download it from the Internet. The required package extension must be .inf. Now print a test page and check that the device works.
What else do you need to know?
Do not forget that some printer drivers are installed along with the operating system, but this is only if they are included in this assembly of Windows. In addition, it is recommended that you remember to update them, as this will greatly simplify your life. Since you can install a printer without a disk, it is better to do this using Windows Update, again, this is only for the software that was installed along with the OS. In other cases, you need to download a special utility that will display the status of your software on your computer. In simple terms, outdated drivers will be automatically updated, but you can do it manually. It so happens that everything seems to work, but the printer does not find it. You think that this is due to another "broken" driver, and start reinstalling it, but the reason is often far from this. If the USB port has been in use for a long time, then it is quite possible that it has failed. It is for this simple reason that it is recommended to first try to change the socket, and only then reinstall something.
Conclusion
A lot of information has been written in this article that will be useful to you in the event that you do not have an installation disc. Even if there is one, then read this material, because sooner or later it may come in handy. I would like to note that you should turn off the antivirus while installing the drivers, but this can not always be done, but only when it blocks the content. Well, that's all on this topic. You now know how to properly install the printer and make it work even in the absence of software. As you can see, there is absolutely nothing difficult here. Take a few minutes of your time and everything will definitely work at its best.
One of the most difficult situations when we have a Canon printer at hand, without the necessary installation disk. This may be if we bought a printer inexpensively from our friend, or at some kind of sale of things, or somehow someone else's old printer fell into our hands, or it is possible to receive a gift to our office, since they bought a newer model there.
The disc can also be lost after formatting the computer, if we have been using this computer for a long time and this disc has never been useful before.
But in any case, such a problem can be solved, it is only recommended to follow all the instructions, which we will now discuss in this article.
For a full-fledged printer to work in any operating system, it is very important that we have drivers present, and also know how to install drivers on a Canon printer. Drivers are an intermediary for the connection between a printer and a computer, or between our other devices. Without their presence, nothing will work, the same will happen if the drivers are broken or outdated - full work will not be possible. The question is how to install the printer on a computer without a disk, which is not at your fingertips. There is a way out of this situation, and today we will tell you about it.
When many users do not have an installation disk for a Canon printer, it is stupid for them, because they have no idea what can be done here. In fact, the situation is not hopeless, there are other sources for obtaining irreplaceable drivers and how to install a printer without a Canon installation disc.
How to connect a Canon printer to a laptop without a disk
Step 1. Connect the printer to your computer using a USB cable. The printer receives data for the printing process through this cable. It looks something like the image below:
If you do not have this wire, there is no reason for concern, since its cost is not high and you can buy it at any computer store. "
Step # 2
First, turn on your computer, and after it completes the boot process, turn on the printer. This must be done in such a way that the computer is already in normal operation when new hardware is connected so that the PC can detect the new device.
Step number 3
Now on your computer, press the Start button, then select Settings.
Step number 4
Then select "Printers and Faxes" or "Printing Devices".
Step # 5
Now after clicking on the button, as shown in the previous image, it remains only to click on the "Add Printer" option.
Note: Add Printer in Windows7 is located in the upper left corner as shown in the image below.
In WindowsXP, this option is also in the upper left corner, but in the "
Step number 6
The Add Printer Wizard will begin. Click Next to enable the computer to detect a new printer using Plug and Play
Note:
The Plug and Play system in Windows7 is automated. As soon as we click on the Add Printer option, it will detect the printer automatically. Below we leave you an image of how the printer will be displayed when you try to install it on Windows7. This system will automatically detect printers that are connected and available for installation. In this case, the computer will automatically start installing the printer. If this does not happen, you will have to select a printer from the list.
You can use the Windows Help or Help app if your device is not recognized.
Step 7
If the printer is not recognized by the computer, you will have to select the port through which the printer is connected. As mentioned earlier, the printer connects to the computer via a USB cable. We choose the same type of connection. All that remains is to choose a printer. If the printer is not new, then this will most likely happen when you install it on Windows7 or WindowsXP. First, in the window that appears, select the brand of the printer, then the model with the corresponding series.
Step number 8
If the procedure performed in step 7 does not work, then you should download the driver from the manufacturer's website. Once the driver is downloaded, complete the installation by unpacking the driver file.
How to install drivers for my printer normally if installation problems occur
»Please be aware that even if you use this information, the driver installation process may not proceed as expected without the installation CD or without the driver. Therefore, we are always ready to help. Just leave a comment on this article and we will respond as soon as possible. "
In the article I will tell you on the example of Windows 7. For Windows 8 / 8.1 / 10 - the same.
Installation
1. Disconnect the printing device from the computer.
2. Insert the disc into the drive.
Autoplay may start. It needs to be disabled immediately for all devices for greater security.
5. The initial window may (and most likely will) be different. But the essence remains. We press "Installation".
6. We are warned that, possibly, during the installation process, additional windows will appear in which it is necessary to allow the execution of all programs. ".
7. We accept the license agreement \u003d.
9. Connect the device and turn it on.
If at the moment it is not desirable to do this (for example, you brought the printer from the cold and you need it to stand for an hour),.
10. The software is installed. Click "Finish".
If you, like me, did not connect the device right away, then launch the shortcut on the desktop and connect it.
I hope I was able to tell you as much as possible about installing the printer and you realized that the most difficult thing is to wait for the process to complete. There is also a video, please see. If you have any questions, ask in the comments. Let's try to figure it out together.
Video
Enjoy printing.
Read how to install a printer on Windows 7, 8 and 10. All the ways where to download the driver and the setup process. Complete instructions.
Each user thinks that it would be nice to have a printer at hand to print the necessary files. It is one of the most important elements of your home office. Modern technology can work on the network and locally. In this regard, users have problems installing it. Let's figure out how to install a printer on a Windows laptop with different versions of the operating system.
How to install a printer on Windows 7
The local printer does not provide an Internet connection. It is installed on one of the PCs. In most cases, local printers are installed at home. In offices, network options are more convenient, to which all users have access. They can send documents for printing. The printer itself for network participation is more complicated - it keeps statistics and distributes the load among users. Let's figure out how to install each of the options.
Installing a local printer
It doesn't take long to set up the printer. We recommend that you first read the instructions from the device. If you don't have it, use the algorithm:
- Unpack and place the printer in a location convenient for you. Connect it to PC with a cable via USB or LPT / COM port.
- In most cases, the computer will automatically recognize the device and configure it.
- If you have an Internet connection, the drivers will be installed automatically.
- After that, you can proceed to the detailed configuration of the device. Go to "Control Panel", open the "Devices and Printers" tab, select your device and click "Properties".
- So that other computers on your home network can use the printer. You need to give them access. To do this, select the "Access" tab.
- Set markers in the lines: "Sharing this printer", "Drawing print jobs on client computers".
If the operating system was unable to install the driver on its own, then you will not be able to configure the printer, in this case, you need to know how to install the printer driver on Windows 7. To do this, you can use several options:
- download them from the official website of the device manufacturer;
- install from disk;
- use utilities to find drivers.
The easiest way is to use the disc that came with the printer. If you purchased a hand-held printing device, you will not have this option. Then go to the manufacturer's official website and find the software in the "Users" or "Technical Support" section.
If you cannot find the files you need on the official website, download and install the driver search utility. It will scan your computer and offer to install any missing program files. One of the most effective applications is Driver Pack Solution. After installing the drivers, return to setting up your printer. If you don't need sharing, then you can do without it. The device will begin to display in text editors.
Installing a network printer and print server
Network printers are connected using TCP / IP. They have several features - the most important of which is the lack of drivers. The program files are stored on the device itself, you do not need to download them. Let's figure out how to install a Windows 7 network printer. To do this, you just need to follow the instructions:
- Install and turn on the network device.
- Go through the "Control Panel" to the "Devices and Printers" tab.
- Select Add New Printer. The system will offer you 2 options: to install local equipment or network equipment. Select the "Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer" line.
- The system will scan the network on its own and detect the device, you just have to confirm its choice.
This printer does not require setup. The advantage of this option is that you can connect to the printing device from a tablet, netbook, or any other device.
How to install a printer on Windows 10
The operating system of version 10 differs in additional settings, so the installation of devices for it will be slightly different. Let's figure out how to install a printer on Windows 10. This operating system works with all modern devices, as well as with local options.
Installing a local printer
Older printers that do not have a wireless interface will connect to a PC using USB or LPT / COM. You need to connect the printer cable to your computer, and then install the device according to the instructions:
- Go to the "Start" menu, select the "Settings" section from the list (the "gear" icon).
- In the "Options" window that opens, find the "Devices" section. Go to it.
- In the left part of the window that opens, find the "Printers" line. Click on it.
- On the right side of the window, a button will appear with the inscription: "Add printers and scanners".
- The system will automatically search for connected devices. Their names will appear in the window that appears. Select the printer you want, click the Stop button and click Next.
- The operating system will do the rest for you - it will load the drivers and configure the device.
During the installation of a local printer, you may have a problem - if the automatic service is not able to detect it. In this case, in the options window, you will find a blue inscription "The required printer is not in the list", and there will be an "Update" button above it. Click below the labels to go to manual configuration:
- In the "Find a printer by other options" window, select the first item "My printer is old, I need help finding it." Click "Next".
- The system will then install a helper utility that will configure your printer to work and detect it.
If the given tips on how to install a local printer did not help, then you need to check the connection of the equipment, replace the wires with new ones. Then download the drivers from the manufacturer's official website and install them on your PC. Please note that some companies make special software for Windows 10. If there is such an option on the official website, use it.
Connecting a wireless printer
Modern models of office equipment are connected via Wi-Fi, which significantly expands their functionality. To install them, you need to configure the router, and then the PC. First, check if your router supports WPS technology. If everything is fine, then you can proceed to setting it up:
- In the address bar of any browser, enter "192.168.1.1". In most cases, this will take you to the settings menu. By default, the login and password for entering this section are admin / admin. If this login data is not suitable, find the instructions from the router or an agreement with your provider (if the router was provided to you from him).
- After you entered the menu, you need to find the WPS section and set the Enable value in it. To restrict access from third-party devices, you can set a pin code.
- Now you need to turn on the printer itself and activate the search for a wireless network on it. After the connection is successful, you can proceed to setting up your computer.
- Open the "Start" menu and select the "Settings" section. Go to the device management menu, select the "Printers" line. Click Add Printer.
- Most often, the wireless device is not detected the first time. So when the message “The printer that I want is not listed” appears, click on it.
- Select "Add a wireless or network printer" from the options provided. After that, the system will automatically start searching for devices. Drivers will also be downloaded without your participation.
If this does not help, then you need to find information about the IP-address of the equipment (indicated in the technical documentation or displayed in the system menu of the router). In this case, select "Add a printer by its TCP / IP" from the list of manual settings. Enter the name or address of the device, place a marker next to "Poll the printer and install drivers automatically." Click "Next", the system will do the rest for you.
Setting up a printer to be shared on a network
If you failed to connect a network printer according to the instructions above, you can create a home network to include the device in it. In this case, several devices can interact with one printer at once, including smartphones and tablets. Setting a default printer in Windows 10 for multiple devices is simple:
- Open the "System" folder in the "Start" menu, select the utility "" in it.
- Set the view mode in the window to “Small icons”. Near the very end of the list, find "Network and Sharing Center." Open this section.
- In the window that opens, on the left, find "Change sharing settings."
- In the list that appears, find the phrase "File and Printer Sharing." Position the marker to enable it. Save your changes.
- Use the arrow to return to the previous window. In the lower left corner, find the inscription "Homegroup". In the window that opens, click on the "Create home group" button.
- Choose which files will be shared. It is a must for printers. Click Next.
- To connect the devices, the system will generate a password that can be written down or requested each time in the host computer (for this, it will be enough to open the "Homegroup" again).
After you have created a homegroup, you can reinstall the printer and use it from any PC or laptop from your local network.
Now you know how to install the printer on the most popular versions of the Windows operating system. It is not a complicated procedure that any user can handle. Share the received information with your friends, leave comments. If you have any problems using printers or computers, we will be happy to find solutions.
