Checklist: Setting up a printer

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Checklist: Setting up a printer

  Step Reference
 

If you are new to printing administration, review key concepts.

Printing Concepts

 

If you are familiar with printing administration, read about new features.

New printing features

 

Plan your printing environment.

Planning for Printing

 

Verify that your printer is in the Windows Catalog.

Support resources

 

Physically install the printer, and verify that it is ready to print.

Printer's vendor documentation

 

Log on as a member of the Administrators group.

 
 

If you set up a printer that is connected directly to a computer (typically through a parallel port) and the printer connects through a USB or IEEE 1394 port, the printer will be detected and configured automatically.

Add a printer attached to your computer

 

If you set up a printer that is attached directly to your network (by way of a network adapter), first install the communication protocol and network services it uses.

Add a printer attached directly to the network

 

Share a printer with other users and advertise it (if not done while adding the printer).

Share a Printer with Users Across the Network

 

Assign printer permissions.

Set or remove permissions for a printer

 

Set the printer's installable options.

Set installable options for a printer

 

Set the default printing preferences.

Set printing defaults

 

Install additional printer drivers for other computers and operating systems to allow automatic driver distribution to clients other than Windows XP or Windows 2000.

Add printer drivers for other versions of Windows

 

Set up network clients to use the printer.

Connect clients to a printer

 

For Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98, and Windows 95 clients, install the appropriate printer driver on the print server.

Connect Windows NT 4.0, Windows 95, and Windows 98 clients

 

For MS-DOS, Windows 3.x, and OS/2 clients, install a printer driver on the client.

Connect MS-DOS, Windows 3.x, and OS/2 clients

 

For other clients, install the network services that the clients use.

Connect clients to a printer

 

Set advanced printer tasks.

Use Advanced Options

 

Enable printer location tracking.

Enable printer location tracking

 

Set Group Policy for printers.

Set Group Policy for printers