Installing Printers in W8 -- you have to use the NETWORK dialog !!!!

jimbo45

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Hi there

just a little reminder -- Installing Printers on W8 isn't intuitive -- the normal method via the control panel will give problems as it always searches for existing devices. These of course it won't find if they aren't locally attached to your W8 machine so you are up that very well known street without the paddle. !!!


What you need to do is click on Network in Windows explorer (Yes Network -- I haven't gone Bonkers -- just yet !!)

now you'll see on the Menu these items on the toolbar File Network and View

Click on Network

Now you'll, see a ribbon containing such items as open, Properties etc etc -- then ADD A PRINTER, add printers and devices etc etc.

CHOOSE ADD A PRINTER ==>find printer by othe options

Then follow the dialog

I've got a shared printer on my server with address \\blackdog\epson photo printer but could be an IP address, or whatever

Then the driver will load from Windows automatically for your W8 machine and you can print.

If you look fore the "classical way" of doing it you won't find the dialog.

I think MS should perhaps clear this one up as if you don't know the trick it's not easy to find -- I googled a bit and it wasn't there but I remembered having this problem ages ago when I ist installed the preview edition.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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Hmm. Many ways to skin the cat, perhaps, But that is the way I have always done it, though Vista to Windows 8. Alternative , which has (mostly?) worked for me, is to use the standard supplied installation disks.
 

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Hmm. Many ways to skin the cat, perhaps, But that is the way I have always done it, though Vista to Windows 8. Alternative , which has (mostly?) worked for me, is to use the standard supplied installation disks.

Hi dave
some printers including the photo printer I am currently using ONLY has XP and Windows 2000 Disks -- these didn't work on W7 -- fortunately W7 had Ms supplied drivers both X-64 and X-86 for this printer even though the Epson site doesn't.

W8 also installed the driver via Windows update.

I'm still using this printer because it's A3+ size which I like for high quality pics -- I've also got an A2 Poster size printer but that I have to run on an XP virtual machine.

The "Consumer" grade printers that are everywhere to be found these days and are cheap only go up to A4 and I'm talking about Professional Photo quality from high end Pro DSLR's using Photoshop etc.

I will have to upgrade the printer sooner or later but I'm waiting to see if Canon or Epson will win this particular war -- I've given up even thinking about HP or Kodak.

My final choice will actually be based on the price of the consumerbles (ink etc) rather than the actual cost of the printer --I've also been "trolling" some of the photography sites too -- people are in the same quandary-- just waiting to see what the next good pro or semi-pro printer will be like and whether it will run on W7 / W8 or W8 server.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
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