Adding a Printer Through Directory Search

All network printers in the ECE Department can be accessed through our central print server, ECEPRINT.

Add through Directory Search under Windows XP

Directory search allows you to make a search for the printer you wish to connect to, based on its name, location, or model. With this option, you can find a printer even if you do not know its name. This is the easiest method, but if you are not on the WOLFTECH domain, or if you are using a personal machine, you must add by the print server and queue.

Step 1 - Starting the Add Printer Wizard

To start the Add Printer wizard, click on the Start button, then click on Printers and Faxes. If Printers and Faxes is not available on the Start Menu, click on Control Panel, then on Printers and Faxes. Once this opens, click on "Add a Printer" in the upper-left.

Figure 1 - Opening the Printer Wizard

Click NEXT to proceed to the Local or Network Printer page. Choose the second option, "A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer", and hit NEXT to proceed to the next step.

Step 2 - Choosing the Directory Search

You should now be looking at the Specify a Printer page. Make sure the first option, "Find a printer in the directory", is chosen and click NEXT. The Directory Search Window should now open.

Figure 2 - Opening the Directory Search

You have three search options, name, location, or model. Fill in one or more of the blanks and then click the Find Now button. You can enter in partial information and the search will return all printers that match. For example, you could enter in "red" in the Name blank, and the search would return all printers with "red" in their name.

Step 3 - Connecting to the Printer

Figure 3 - Connecting to the Printer

As you can see, we've entered "hipp" into the Name blank and started a search. The search has returned with HIPPOGRIFF as the only printer that matches that criteria.

Once you've completed the search and have found the printer you want, right-click on the printer's entry. You will get a menu as shown in Figure 3. Choose the "Connect" option and your computer will attempt to add the printer.

Step 4 - Finish the Wizard

If successful, the wizard will then ask if you wish to use this printer as your default printer. Choose either Yes or No, then click NEXT and you will come to the end of the wizard. Click FINISH to finish the wizard and the new printer will show up in the Printers and Faxes window and be available for printing in applications on your computer.

Add through Directory Search under Windows Vista

The method for adding a printer via the Directory Search feature in Windows Vista is very similar to the process in XP. However, the guide below walks you through the process under Windows Vista, highlighting the minor differences.

Step 1 - Starting the Add Printer Wizard

To start the Add Printer wizard, click on the Start button, then click on Control Panel. When the Control Panel Window Opens up, click on Printers. Once this opens, click on "Add a Printer" on the bar right below the address bar, as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 - Opening the Printer Wizard

Choose the second option, "Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer", and hit NEXT to proceed to the next step. Figure 2 shows this step.

Figure 2 - Choosing to Add a Network Printer

Step 2 - Choosing the Directory Search

On the next window, the wizard will start searching for printers, however, IGNORE this and select "The printer that I want isn't listed," as in Figure 3.

Figure 3 - Selecting to Add a Printer Not Listed

At the next window, referring to Figure 4 be sure to select "Find a printer in the directory, based on location or feature."

Figure 4 - Opting to Add a Printer From the Directory

You have three search options, name, location, or model. Fill in one or more of the blanks and then click the Find Now button. You can enter in partial information and the search will return all printers that match. For example, you could enter in "red" in the Name blank, and the search would return all printers with "red" in their name. See Figure 5.

Figure 5 - Searching for a Printer

Step 3 - Connecting to the Printer

Figure 6 - Connecting to the Printer

As you can see, we've entered "arcticwolf" into the Name blank and started a search. The search has returned with ARCTICWOLF as the only printer that matches that criteria.

Once you've completed the search and have found the printer you want, right-click on the printer's entry. You will get a menu as shown in Figure 6. Choose the "Connect" option and your computer will attempt to add the printer. Once the computer has connected to the printer, hit "Ok."

Figure 7 - Installing Drivers

At this point, a dialog box might pop-up such as in Figure 7. If this happens, it means that drivers need to be installed for the printer; However, all you need to do is simply click install, then give Windows permission to do such when the next dialog box pops-up.

If you are not prompted to install a driver for the printed, your computer is already equipped with the required drivers and you can proceed onto the next step in this guide.

Step 4 - Finish the Wizard

The next window that comes up will have the printer's name on it, and in some cases, the option to make it your default printer. Simply verify that the printer name shown is the one you want to add and hit next.

Finally, you will be prompted to end the Printer Add Wizard. This window also gives you the option to print a test page, in the case that you want to verify that the printer is working. If you feel the need to do this, click "Print Test Page," otherwise click "Finish."