Installing a Network Printer

When printing from UNIX, certain printer features such as duplex and tray, are selectable via the printer name. This is not possible when printing from Windows. To select these features from Windows, select the printer, then edit the Configuration and Preferences; make sure that appropriate features of the printer are enabled. Then select these features when printing each document. You can set defaults, and then feature selection will only be necessary when you don't want the defaults.

Before you start, you should visit the CS printer list and note the IP addresses and hostname of the printers you want to install and download the necessary drivers.

Windows 7

  1. Open Start → Control Panel → Devices and Printers → Add Printer
    This brings up the Add Printer Wizard
  2. Select Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer
  3. Windows will search the network for available printers and list them as they are discovered. If you have the IP address of the printer you want to install, simply double-click on the printer name. If Windows does not have a driver available for the printer, you will be prompted for a driver.

    If you just can't wait, or the printer you are interested in was not listed, you can select The printer that I want isn't listed. This will allow you to specify the IP address of the printer you are trying to install. You should be able to complete the install from this point.

  4. You will be prompted to rename the printer, enable sharing and set the printer as the default system printer. It is recommended that you do not share the printer.

Windows 7 ships with many printer drivers. If you encounter problems printing, please download the latest drivers from the vendor and install them before reporting issues. Usually the PCL6 drivers work the best. In cases where Windows 7 drivers are not available, try using the equivalent Vista drivers.

Windows XP

  1. Open Start → Control Panel → Printers and Faxes → Add Printer
    This brings up the Add Printer Wizard
  2. Next → A network printer, or printer attached to another computer
  3. Continue to Connect to a printer on the Internet or on a home or office network
  4. Fill in the URL with http://prROOM.cs.duke.edu (where the ROOM number is the one in front of the printer you want to print to).
  5. Select Next and choose the driver for the printer. The model of the printer should be listed on the CS Printer List.
  6. After choosing the driver, the installation will proceed. You should see the printer in the list of installed printers.

If you experience trouble with slow printing you may need to switch the drivers from PCL 6 to either PCL 5 or the PS driver. As a last ditch effort, installing the HP printing system for that printer usually works well.

Printer Drivers

A list of printers and copiers available in the department is available on the Facilities printer list. The drivers for the different printer models within the department can be downloaded from the manufacturers' web sites:

Please report broken links. Though we try to keep these updated, they change frequently.