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How do I hook up 2 computers to one printer?

How do you hook up 2 computers to one (1) printer?

  • I Have 1 hp pavilion w/Windows XP and (1) with Windows 7?

  • Answer:

    Install the printer on the Windows 7 machine and share it. In XP add a network printer, follow instructions. I say to install on windows 7, because the other way around, especially 64 bit will be a headache you do not want, believe me.

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I'm assuming your asking this because the printer can only connect to one other computer via USB cable. The easiest way would to just switch the cable connecting the printer to the computer to the other computer when you need to print on that computer. If your computers are far away from each other or if you don't want to constantly switch out cables then you need to connect the printer to your network. You can either connect one computer to the printer via wire and the other by your network or you can have everything be transferred over the network. 1) Make sure both computers have the printer driver installed on them. 2) Make sure your printer and both of your computers are connected to your router. They can be either connected wirelessly or by Ethernet cables. 3) To connect your computer to your printer across your network, on Windows 7 you need to go to, Start>Devices and Printers>Add a Printer then select "Add a network printer." You can also do this with Windows XP although I do not know exactly where the option is. Follow the rest of the wizard and everything should be hunky dorey and you'll be able to connect multiple computers to your printer.

Quo

To share a printer with multiple computers, you need to share it on the network. If the printer is already network-enabled (meaning it has an internal print server), it will have an Ethernet port. Plug it into your router like you would a computer. This should be outlined in the user manual. If you don't have a network-enabled printer, you can still share the printer on your network by using one of your computers as the print server. Follow these instructions: http://lifehacker.com/309015/share-a-printer-on-your-home-network Print away!

This Guys Sez

If you have your printer set up with one computer already, then setting up the other is fairly simple if you're using a network. For starters, go to control panel then Devices and Printers. then, add a printer and then add a printer over the network. Just follow the instructions after that and all should be set.

Angus B

You will be smart to go wireless with a router. Then when you go to print a message will show you which printers are connected. Simply choose the right one. WilliamG

WilliamG

What kind of printer is it? The easiest way is to connect your printer to your router. If it isn't network ready you could purchase a print server and connect that to your router, or the more difficult way is to connect it to one computer then allow printer sharing then get the address for the printer and set that up on the computer its not connected to.

nthank15

Keep switching the USB cable or get a router and map the printer as a network printer

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