Adding a Printer Through Directory Search

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

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 using a personal machine or having trouble with this method, you must add by the print server and queue.

Because of certain differences in appearance between Windows XP and Windows Vista, we have created separate illustrated guides for the two OSs.

Using Windows XP

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.

Using Windows Vista / Windows 7

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

At the next window, referring to Figure 3 be sure to select "Find a printer in the directory, based on location or feature", then click the NEXT button to proceed.

Figure 3 - 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 4.

Figure 4 - Searching for a Printer

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

Step 3 - Connecting to the Printer

Figure 5 - Connecting to the Printer

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 5. Choose the "Connect" option and your computer will attempt to add the printer. Once the computer has connected to the printer, hit OK.

Should the wizard fail at this step, you may not have permissions to the printer you are attempting to add. If you believe you should have permissions, email ecehelp@ncsu.edu with the name of the printer and a description of your issue.

Figure 6 - Installing Drivers

At this point, a dialog box might pop-up such as in Figure 6 for installing drivers. Normally, domained machines in the ECE Department should not bring up this prompt, but should it comeup, simply click Install driver, then say Yes to the prompt regarding administrative privileges.

If the wizard fails at this point, the print server may not have the appropriate drivers for your version of Windows. Please email ecehelp@ncsu.edu and be sure to include the name of the printer you were attempting to add, the version of Windows you are running, and whether you require 32 bit or 64 bit drivers.

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 to verify that the printer is working. If you wish to do so, click "Print Test Page", otherwise click FINISH.