Read how to install a printer on Windows 7,8 and 10. All the ways, where to download drivers and the setup process. Full instructions.

Every user thinks that it would be nice to have a printer on hand to print the necessary files. This is one of the most important elements of your home office. Modern technology can work on the network and locally. Due to this, users have problems installing it. Let's figure out how to install the printer on Windows laptop With different versions operating system.

How to install a printer on Windows 7

The local printer does not allow connection via the Internet. 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 network participation printer itself is more complex - it keeps statistics and distributes the load between users. Let's look at installing each option.

Installing a Local Printer

It won't take you long to install the printer. We recommend that you first read the instructions from the device. If you don't have it, use the algorithm:

1. Unpack and install the printer in a location convenient for you. Connect it to the PC with a cable via USB port or LPT/COM.
2. In most cases, the computer will automatically recognize the device and configure it.
3. If you have an Internet connection, the drivers will be installed automatically.
4. After this you can proceed to detailed settings devices. Go to Control Panel, open the Devices and Printers tab, select your device and click Properties.
5. 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.
6. Place markers in the lines: “Sharing this printer", "rendering 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 printer drivers 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 search for drivers.

The easiest way is to use the disk that came with the printer. If you purchased a handheld printing device, you will not have this option. Then go to the official website of the manufacturer and find software in the “Users” or “Technical Support” section.

If you can't find necessary files 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 the printer. If you don't need general access, then you can do without it. The device will begin to show up in text editors.

Installation network printer and print server

Network printers are connected using the TCP/IP protocol. They have several features - the most important of which is the lack of drivers. Program files are stored on the device itself, you do not need to download them. Let's figure out how to install a network printer in Windows 7. To do this, you just need to follow the instructions:

1. Install and enable the network device.
2. Go through the “Control Panel” to the “Devices and Printers” tab.
3. Select "Add new printer" The system will offer you 2 options: install local equipment or network. Select the line “Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer.”
4. The system will automatically scan the network and detect the device; all you have to do is confirm its choice.

This printer does not require any 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

Operating system version 10 is different additional settings, so installing 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 local options.

Installing a Local Printer

Old printers that do not have an interface for wireless connection connect to PC when USB help or LPT/COM. You need to connect the printer cable to your computer, and then install the device according to the instructions:

1. Go to the “Start” menu, select the “Settings” section from the list (the “gear” icon).
2. In the “Settings” window that opens, find the “Devices” section. Go to it.
3. On the left side of the window that opens, find the “Printers” line. Click on it.
4. A button will appear on the right side of the window that says: “Add printers and scanners.”
5. System in automatic mode will begin searching for connected devices. Their names will appear in the window that appears. Select desired printer, click on the Stop button and click Next.
6. The operating system will do the rest for you - download drivers and configure the device.

During installation of a local printer, you may encounter a problem if the automatic service is not able to detect it. In this case, in the options window you will find a blue message “The printer you require is not listed”, and above it there will be an “Update” button. Click under the labels to proceed to manual settings:

1. In the “Find a printer by other options” window, select the first option “My printer is old, I need help finding it.” Click "Next".
2. After this, the system will install a helper utility that will configure your printer to work and detect it.

If the tips given on how to install a local printer did not help, then you need to check the connection of the equipment and 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:

1. IN address bar In any browser, enter “192.168.1.1”. In most cases, this will take you to the settings menu. The default login and password to enter this section is admin /admin. If these login details do not suit you, find the instructions from the router or the agreement with your provider (if the router was provided to you from them).
2. After you have entered the menu, you need to find the WPS section and set it to Enable. To restrict access from third party devices you can set a PIN code.
3. Now you need to turn on the printer itself and activate search on it wireless network. After the connection is successful, you can proceed to setting up your computer.
4. Open the Start menu and select Settings. Go to the device management menu, select the “Printers” line. Click Add Printer.
5. More often wireless device not detected the first time. Therefore, when the message “The printer you require is not listed” appears, click on it.
6. From the options provided, select "Add a wireless or network printer." After which the system will automatically begin 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 router’s system menu). In this case, from the list manual settings Select “Add a printer by its TCP/IP”. Enter the name or address of the device, put a checkmark next to the phrase “Poll the printer and install drivers automatically.” Click “Next”, the system will do the rest for you.

Set up to share a printer on a network

If you were unable 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, including smartphones and tablets, can interact with one printer at once. Setting the default printer in Windows 10 for multiple devices is simple:

1. Open the “System” folder in the “Start” menu, select the “” utility in it.
2. Set the window's viewing mode to "Small Icons". Almost at the very end of the list, find “Network and Sharing Center”. Open this section.
3. In the window that opens, on the left, find “Change sharing settings.”
4. In the list that appears, find the phrase “File and Printer Sharing.” Position the marker to enable it. Save your changes.
5. Use the arrow to return to the previous window. In the lower left corner, find the words “Homegroup”. In the window that opens, click on the “Create” button home group».
6. Choose which files will be shared. It is required for printers. Click Next.
7. To connect devices, the system will generate a password, which can be written down or requested each time on the host computer (to do this, just open the “Home Group” again).

After you have created a homegroup, you can install the printer again and use it from any PC or laptop on your local network.

Now you know how to install a printer on the most popular versions of the Windows operating system. This is not a complicated procedure that any user can handle. Share the information you receive with your friends, leave comments. If you're having trouble using your printers or computers, we'll be happy to find solutions.

Installing a local printer in Windows 8 is much easier than in its predecessor systems. In order for the G8 to recognize the device, you just need to connect it with a USB cable to the computer and plug it into the network, the system will do the rest itself - install the drivers and configure the printer to work correctly. Network printers are also installed automatically (when shared access is allowed). If problems arise with this, you can install the printer manually.

How can I check if a printer is installed on my computer?

• Right-click the Windows (Start) button and open Control Panel.

• Open the “Devices and Printers” section.

• See if your printer is on the list. If yes, everything is in order, if not, manual installation is required.

Installing a local printer on Windows 8

• Connect the printer to your PC and plug in. Press the Power button on the printer panel.

• While in the “Devices and Printers” section, click the “Add a Printer” button. The device search and installation wizard will start.

• If the system detects the printer, it appears in the list. To install it, click “Next” and follow the wizard’s instructions one by one: confirm your consent, indicate the location where the drivers are located at the system’s request, etc.

• If your printer is not listed, make sure it is connected and working. After that, click “The printer you want is not in the list.” You will be asked to search for the device using other parameters. Check “Add a local or network printer with manual settings.”

• Specify the port to which the printer is connected and click “Next”.

• Select the manufacturer and model of the device from the lists, as well as the location where the drivers should be installed - from the center Windows updates 8 or from a specified location, for example, from a DVD.

• Provide a name for the new printer.

• And, if desired, allow or deny public access to it. If access is allowed, specify the network location.

• The last step is to allow the printer to be used as the default (check if desired). To check if the installation was successful, print a test page. If everything is ok, click “Done”.

Installing a network printer on Windows 8

To use a printer connected to another computer, it must be shared. For this:

• Go to the control panel of the PC to which the printer is connected, or right-click on the network icon in the tray. Open “Network and Sharing Center”.

• Click “Edit” in the transition bar Extra options public access."

• Open Settings the desired network and check the “Enable file and printer sharing” checkbox. Save your changes.

The following steps are performed on the PC from which you want to access printing.

• Open “Devices and Printers” in Control Panel as described above. Click “Add a Printer”.
• All available devices should appear in the list. Select the one you need and follow the installation wizard instructions.

If the printer you need is not available, click the link of the same name at the bottom of the window, then the following options will be available to you:

• Select a shared printer by name. Having noted this, you can manually register the network path to the device or find it through Explorer.

• Add a printer via TCP/IP or by host name. Once you select this, you will have to manually specify the device type, its IP and port name. The installation wizard will guide you through the remaining steps.

• Add a Bluetooth, wireless, or network discoverable printer. After selecting this item, the system will check if there are available wireless printers on the network and, if so, will offer to install.

We discussed the last option above, so we will not return to it.

Troubleshooting printer installation problems

Why does the system not see the printer?

Windows 8 may not detect printers for the following reasons.

Local:

• The USB port or cable is faulty.
• The printer driver is not supported by the system.
• The Print Spooler service is not running.
• There is a driver conflict.
• The system is infected with a virus.

• There is no connection with the computer to which the network printer is connected (it is turned off or unavailable due to incorrect settings public access).
• The network path to the printer is incorrect.
• The computer does not see the printer port or is connected to the network via a VPN connection.

Troubleshooting problems connecting a local printer

• Check whether the system sees the printer when connected to a different port and cable.
• Install Latest updates Windows 8 and also reinstall the printer drivers. Use the latest versions.
• Make sure the Print Spooler service is running on your computer. For this:
  • open the “Services” tab of the task manager and click the “Open services” link at the bottom of the window;

• Find “Print Manager” in the list, open it context menu and click “Start” if the service is stopped.

• If another printer was installed on your computer, uninstall its driver and software.
• Scan your system for viruses.

Solving problems connecting a network printer

After that, check if the printer can see your PC. After following all the instructions, the problem should be resolved.

It happens more and more often that old, reliable and completely working equipment, such as a printer or scanner, can no longer be connected to a new computer due to the lack of drivers for it. What to do: throw it away, buy a new one (of unknown quality)? In this article we will tell you how you can connect any such “outdated” device to a computer running a new operating system (Windows 7, 8, 10).

In short, the situation is resolved this way: a virtual computer with Windows XP (or another one under which) is installed on our computer this equipment can work correctly), drivers are installed, interaction is configured.

Let’s try to break down the connection step by step as an example. Canon printer LBP-800 and Genius ColorPage-HR6X scanner. The printer is connected to the computer using LPT, so it is advisable that the computer be equipped with the following port:

Motherboard with lpt port

If there is no such port, find out if it is possible to add it inside the system unit using a PCI-LPT card:

Let's add the missing LPT port to the computer using this board

Various USB-LPT adapters most likely will not work normally (therefore, laptop users in this case cannot count on success):

Connecting USB devices, such as the Genius ColorPage-HR6X scanner, to the virtual machine will not cause any problems.

1. Which virtual machine should I choose?

• Windows Virtual PC (XP Mode)- included in Windows composition 7 Professional, Ultimate, does not work well with the LPT port. After updating to Windows 8 or 10, it stops working, all data from it is lost, because Microsoft decided so).

Oracle VM VirtualBox— free, has a Russian interface, does not support working with LPT, is a little buggy, and can sometimes freeze and turn off for unknown reasons.

• VMware Player- free, no Russian interface, latest versions work only on 64-bit operating systems.

2. Setting up a virtual machine

Of all the many programs, we chose VMware Player, so we will base our review on this example.

2.1. Download and install the creation program virtual machine.

2.2. We launch the program and create in it virtual computer.

2.2.1. Create a New Virtual Machine.

2.2.2. Choosing a method Windows installations: either from the drive, or from an image file, or later (for example, from a ready-made VMware disk image file).

2.2.3. Select the name and location of the system.

2.2.4. For the XP “virtual”, 10 GB of space is enough and, for convenience, it consists of one file.

2.2.5. Let's review the hardware of the virtual machine.

2.2.6. All the default values ​​are fine for us, we just need to add an LPT port.

2.2.7. Select “Parallel Port” (LPT), click Next -> Next -> Finish.

2.2.8. In order to add a shared folder for exchanging information between computers, click the “Edit virtual machine settings” button:

2.2.9. Go to the Options tab, find the “Shared Folders” item, set the switch to the “Always enabled” position and check the “Map as a network drive in Windows guests” checkbox.

2.3. Install on virtual Windows machine XP.

We launch the virtual machine, install Windows and the necessary software package.

We will most likely only need those with which we will print (or scan) here, for example: package office programs Microsoft Office, for recognizing scanned text, XnView to facilitate the process of scanning images.

3. Connecting an LPT device

In order to install an LPT device, like our Canon LBP-800 printer, you need to download its driver from the manufacturer’s website, or insert it into the drive installation disk, and, following the manufacturer’s recommendations, install it in our virtual machine.

9. Install the printer driver and check its functionality.

4. Connecting a USB device

In order to connect our Genius ColorPage-HR6X scanner (as well as any other USB device: printer, flash drive, webcam, etc.), you need to right-click on the icon of this device in the drop-down menu and click “ Connect (Diskonnect from host)"

After discovering a new device, install a driver for it, according to the recommendations of the manufacturer of this equipment.

5. Work

To print a file, you need to do the following: copy it to the exchange folder, launch a virtual computer, open this file in it, print it.

To scan something you need to: launch a virtual computer, launch a scanning program, scan (recognize text if necessary), copy the results of the work to the exchange folder. Now the results of the work can be used on the main computer.

6. Conclusions

Now old devices that are not supported by manufacturers are given a new life, and we save some money and nerves. After all, new equipment is not always better than old! True, all operations will now have to spend a little more time.

The Genius ColorPage-HR6X scanner driver for Windows 7 and older does not exist and, accordingly, it will not work on our main computer.

But for virtual VMware machines— connection and normal operation outdated devices- quite a feasible task.

If you can't get your printer to work with new Windows 8, you can try a few things. As with all new updates, printers and Windows 8 may have compatibility issues. You can resolve these issues by following the steps below.

Before you get too technical, I would recommend looking at your connections first. Every expert will tell you that the cords are secure and everything is plugged in correctly. If that's not the problem, I'd say you might have a driver issue.

Installing the Printer Driver

Many older printers and Windows 8 are not compatible at first. This is because the printer is using a driver that does not recognize the new operating system. A driver literally makes your printer work with your computer. He recognizes Windows commands to get the job done. You may have to look for updates before your printer works.

Check your printer manufacturer's website for updates. Even if your printer is more old version, the manufacturer may have an update for your printer and Windows 8. You will need your printer's model number visible on the front.

HP Printer Driver Location

You can also look at your computer manufacturer's website for drivers with various devices, including your printer. To do this, you'll need your PC's model number, which is usually located on the back or bottom. Finally, it will update your old, non-working printer driver to the latest possible version, which can often include Windows 8 compatibility.

Running in compatibility mode

Another problem I have found with printers and Windows 8 is that even with the correct driver, the driver refuses to install. To get it to work, you may need to convince it that it works with Windows 7. To do this, you will need to run in compatibility mode.

1. Once you find required driver, you will need to right-click on the " Settings" for driver
2. Click " Properties" .
3. Go to the tab Compatibility
4. In the second section, you will see a box that says “Run this program in compatibility mode for” with a drop-down list. Make sure the box says Windows 7 even if you have Windows 8
5. Select field
6. Click Apply

Runs on Windows 7 for compatibility

Connecting to a Windows 8 system

You may have more than one computer and need to connect them together. If your printer is already connected to an older machine, you will simply need to connect it to your new Windows 8 PC. To do this, go to the control panel on your computer under Windows control 8 to create a homegroup.

Windows 8 printer installation can be divided into two pairing paths. This is a manual and automatic way to recognize the device. It is also worth focusing more specifically on the types of connections - local and network. We will look at all the options for how to install a printer on Windows 8.

Local and network devices

A local printer is a device that you install and configure in your home. You are unlikely to find it in a large office, since network models of such devices are increasingly used there. If it is equipped with a special bus directly connected to system unit, then there should be no problems with setup and pairing. Even a schoolchild can cope with this, since all setup work is carried out automatically by the Windows 8 system itself, which will detect and install the device almost independently.

In recent years, this type of printer connection has become very popular, such as setting it up via Wi-Fi router. If you use the home Internet through such a device, then you should know that almost all models of modern printing devices connect to a computer via Wi-Fi. Unlike the wired connection method, in our version you will need to search for a new device.

To do this, first check whether the Wi-Fi router and the corresponding indicator button on the device itself are turned on. More details about where this indicator is located and how it works can be found in the instructions that come with each specific model. As soon as you turn on Wi-Fi access, then you need to find the “Adding networks” section on your computer. Directly within its framework, a search for a new connection is made. If access is initially configured correctly, Windows 8 will immediately detect the new device.

If the search fails, then you need:

• check whether the copier is turned on and whether it is “sleeping”;
• check to see if you have already added it to Windows 8 before. If you repeat such manipulations, the system will not add it a second time;
• check if there is a Wi-Fi signal and how accessible it is. That is, even if the devices (printer and computer) are in different rooms, the computer system may not pick up the signal;
• Other devices in the house that emit certain waves may interfere with the connection. These include microwave ovens, Cell Phones etc.
• check how accurately the Wi-Fi router is paired with the computer. To do this, you need to go to the Internet and open any page. It should be fully displayed.
• As a last resort, you can visit the website of the copy machine manufacturer. Perhaps there may be certain features that a particular model has.

To install the network model, you must follow all the same recommendations as in the case of the local option. You just need to take into account that in the network case you will have to wait some time until the Windows 8 system detects the device. You should also make sure when searching for a network printer that it has the correct IP address information.

Automatic connection method

If we stick to the automatic method, we can say with certainty that there is nothing difficult here. Windows system 8 will discover it herself required device, as already described above. If a connection is made to a network device, the system can detect several models at once. You just need to select the one you need (by name) and pair it.

There may be a problem with the driver during the communication phase. The system will require you to install it during the search. The driver can be downloaded automatically or included on a disk along with the printer. If you did not install the driver before connecting, you can do this later when the system itself requests it via a message on the screen.

Manual connection

The manual method is used only in cases where automatic installation did not come true. To do this, you will need to select the “Device could not be detected” footnote in the “Add a printer” window. Next, the Windows Setup Wizard will launch on its own. You will need to determine the device model. If we are talking about a network type of pairing, then you need to accurately determine the IP address.