By George Norman
Added on 10 Nov 2009(4895 Views)



With the latest version of the Microsoft developed, Windows-based operating system, Windows 7, you can easily create a HomeGroup and share files with other Windows 7 users. But did you know that you could also share a printer, as long as it is connected with a USB cable to a Windows 7-powered computer within the HomeGroup. If you did not know about it, you do now. If you already knew that you could share a printer on the HomeGroup, then you will undoubtedly want to find out how to do this.

The process of sharing a printer over the HomeGroup in Windows 7 is a relatively straightforward one. All you have to do is follow the detailed, step-by-step instructions presented below.

Step 1. Minimize all open windows. Better yet, close everything.

Step 2. Click the Start button, the Windows orb from the bottom left hand corner of the screen. Alternatively you could just press the Windows key on your keyboard (the one with the Microsoft logo on it).

Step 3. Click Control Panel from the Start Menu.

Step 4. In the search box type in homegroup -> now click HomeGroup.

Step 5. Click Install printer -> check the box next to Printers -> click Save Changes.

Step 6. You should now connect to the HomeGroup shared printer.
A Windows found a homegroup printer message should appear -> click it. This way you will automatically connect to the printer.
To manually connect to the printer, first go to the computer to which the printer is physically connected to. Access the HomeGroup as presented above (steps 1 through 4) and make sure the box next to Printers is checked. Now go to the computer you want to print from, access the HomeGroup (steps 1 through 4) -> click Install printer. Don’t forget to click Install driver in the dialog box – when the dialog box appears; only if you do not have a driver installed.

Tips and warnings
  • The computer to which the printer is physically connected to must be turned on. If it is turned off, the printer cannot be shared with other PCs on the HomeGroup.




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Tags: Microsoft, Windows 7, HomeGroup, Printer, Sharing

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Comments

anger - 22 Nov 2011 22:28
This advice was so fucking helpful, it tells you that there is a INSTALL PRINTER button to click when there ISN'T A FUCKING INSTALL PRINTER BUTTON. Who fucking wrote this shit?
faisal - 13 Jan 2010 12:32
sme problem. Install printer button does't do anythng. I think afte winXP everything else is just crap!!
J. 'Hammer' - 10 Jan 2010 21:36
Seems to be a common problem - microsoft garbage unfortunately. I have two pcs on a Homegroup. I plug the printer to one - the other can't see it and that button does crap. Install the printer to pc2 and pc1 can print to it fine. Re-install printer to pc1 and pc2 still can't find it, even if I manually browse for it...........
Barry Chovitz - 03 Dec 2009 22:23
This makes sense, but I can't get the "install printer" button to do anything!

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