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Step-By-Step: New Tricks for an Old PC

Stan Miastkowski

PROJECT: Network Print Server

Processor: Pentium-133 or above

RAM: 32MB or above

Hard Drive: 1GB or above

Operating system: Windows 98 or above

Network card required? Yes

Other required add-ins: Printer

Buying a printer for each computer in your home or office can get expensive. It's easier for everyone to share a single printer. You can use an old PC as a print server, and then put the printer in a handy location where everyone has access to it.

Note that you can combine file and print sharing on one PC.

1. Install the printer. Follow the printer manufacturer's directions to hook up your printer and install drivers for it.

2. Enable printer sharing. Follow the instructions from the preceding project to enable file sharing. In 98 and Me, also check I want to be able to allow others to print to my printer(s) in the dialog box in Step 1 of the project above. Then restart your PC.

 

3. Share the printer. In Windows 98, Me, or 2000, select Start, Settings, Printers; in XP, select Start, Printers and Faxes. Right-click the icon of the printer you want to share, and choose Sharing. Follow the directions. You can set a password requirement for printer access.

 

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