When you have a printer attached to a Windows network, you can attach to it either using a hardwired connection or a wireless connection. If the printer is available for other hardwired machines, then connecting to the printer on a wireless laptop or desktop is similar. For most people, a wireless laptop is used to connect to a small home or office network. As soon as you connect to the network on the wireless router, you can map to a printer location on the laptop.
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Click the Windows \"Start\" button and select \"Control Panel.\" Double-click the \"Printers\" icon in the Control Panel. Double-click the \"Add Printer\" icon. The opening screen introduces you to the wizard. Click the \"Next\" button to get started.
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Select \"A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer.\" This option is for any machine that needs to connect to a remote printer on the network.
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Enter the location of the printer. The syntax to connect to a remote printer is \"\computer_name\printer_name.\"
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The \"computer_name\" is the Windows name given to the machine that has the printer connected to it. You can find the computer name by right-clicking the \"My Computer\" icon on the desktop and selecting \"Properties.\"
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Click the \"Next\" button. Enter a name for the printer and click the \"Next\" button again. The name you give to the printer is the one you will see in your printer settings.
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Click the \"Print a Test Page\" button to send a print job to the printer. Click the \"Finish\" button after a test page prints. You can now use this printer on your wireless laptop or desktop.
