Here’s how to set up file and printer sharing on a wireless network so that these shared resources can be available to all printers on the network.

How to set up printer sharing

Go to the PC the printer is plugged into and open Control Panel > Printers and other Hardware > View installed printers or fax printers, and click on your printer. From there open the Printer menu and click on Sharing. From there click Share this printer, then click OK.

How to add a network printer

Do the following on each of the other PCs on your network: open Control Panel > Printers and Faxes and click Add a printer. This will take you into a wizard to find the printer you shared previously. Click Next until you are at the Local or Network Printer page. Select ‘A network printer or a printer attached to another computer, and click Next. Now click Browse for a printer’ and click Next. This will display your workgroup, the PCs connected to it and any printers that are attached to them. Click on the one you shared earlier and click Next. This should install the driver automatically. If not, you may need to get the CD that came with the printer. Now click Yes for that to be the default printer for this PC (or no if it already has one attached). Click Finish.

Troubleshooting

Both this PC and the one it’s attached to might need a reboot. If you’re not seeing the PC it’s attached to, double-check that all PCs have the same network name. (Control Panel > Performance & Maintenance > See basic information about your computer. From there click on Computer Name. Your workgroup is displayed.) If you’re not seeing the printer, make sure it’s switched on. If it still doesn’t work, you may need to install the printer driver using the CD.