1. In Windows XP, click the Start button (bottom left hand corner) and select the Control Panel.


2. If not already in the "Classic view", select the Classic view option (upper left corner of the window - you can switch between the classic view and the category view).


3. Click on the "Printers" icon.


4. Right click on the printer that you wish to share.


5. Click the Sharing... option.


6. Click on the sharing option and give the printer a name on the network.

To access a shared folder, you also use the "Printers" icon in the control panel. Click on the "Add a Printer option. Click "Next" in the Wizard that appears. Indicate that you wish to search for printers on the network. Then browser for the printer on the network and select it. You will then be able to print on the network printer as though it is connected to your own machine.

Windows 98

To share a printer, first make sure you have completed the steps outlined above to activate File and Printer Sharing. Then:

1. Click the Start button, move to Settings and select Printers. A window will open listing all of the printers on the local system.


2. Move over the icon for the printer you wish to share and click the right mouse button to bring up the menu. Select Sharing...


3. The Properties window will pop up with the Sharing tab section open. Click the Shared As option and type in a name for the printer. You may also elect to require a password to access the printer.


4. Click OK to close the window. This printer is now shared.

To access the printer from another computer:

1. Go to that computer and open the Printers window.


2. Double-click the Add a Printer wizard.


3. Choose the Network Printer option and click Next.


4. The wizard will display a list of all shared printers on the LAN. Choose the printer you wish to access and click Next again. The wizard will then install the appropriate driver if it is available, or else request that you put in a disk or CD with the driver software.

Once the wizard finishes installing the software, the printer will appear to your system just like a local printer.