Add Shared Printer as a Local Printer

Sometimes you might have problems browsing to printer and file shares on the network. Thus adding a shared printer to your computer via the Network Printer method might not work. However, you still might be able to add it via the Local Printer method.

In Windows XP:

1. Click Start > Printers and Faxes.
2. Click Add a Printer on the left pane.
3. Click Next.
4. Select Local printer attached to this computer and click Next.
5. Select Create a new port, select Local Port for the Port Type, and click Next.
6. For Port Name, enter the network path to the printer by entering two slashes, the computer name or local IP address of the PC sharing the printer, and then the share name of the printer. For example “\\dellpc\hpprinter” or “\\192.168.1.100\hpprinter”
7. Select the printer and click Next. If the exact model isn’t listed, try the closest model number or a generic printer.
8. Follow the rest of the wizard.

In Windows Vista and 7:

1. Click Start > Devices and Printers.
2. Click Add a Printer on the top.
3. Select Add a local printer.
4. Select Create a new port, select Local Port for the Port Type, and click Next.
5. For Port Name, enter the network path to the printer by entering two slashes, the computer name or local IP address of the PC sharing the printer, and then the share name of the printer. For example “\\dellpc\hpprinter” or “\\192.168.1.100\hpprinter”
6. Select the printer and click Next. If the exact model isn’t listed, try the closest model number or a generic printer.
7. Follow the rest of the wizard.