Adding a Faculty Department Printer

This page explains how to properly add a printer on a faculty/staff members machine on either a Macintosh or Windows platform.

Checking the Printers

1. Before you install anything, double check to make sure the desired printer isn't already installed. It's possible that the printer isn't set to be the default printer, and the user has no idea.

Checking a Windows Machine

For a Windows machine, go to the Start Menu (or spherical Windows icon in the lower left hand corner of the screen), then click "Devices and Printers." This will open a new menu displaying all of the installed devices and printers. If their desired printer is installed and is not the default, right click the printer icon and select the "Set as Default Printer" option. If the printer is not installed, refer to Installing a Printer (Windows.

Checking a Macintosh Machine

For a Macintosh, click on the apple icon located in the upper left hand corner of the screen. A drop down menu will appear with the option "System Preferences." Click on that, and a new window will open. Under the "Hardware" menu, there is an icon called "Print and Fax." All of the installed printers will be located under that icon. If the desired printer is installed but not set to default, right click it, and select "Set as Default Printer." If the printer is not installed, refer to Installing a Printer (Macintosh)

Installing a Printer (Windows)

1. Go to the start menu as before, and open the same "Devices and Printers" window.
2. Select "Add a Printer" located on the upper menu bar of the window.
3. Select the "Add a Local Printer" option located in the following window.
4. Two options are then given: "Use an existing port" or "Create a new port." Select Create a new port, and in the drop down menu select Standard TCP/IP Port.
5. You are then asked for the Hostname/IP address (See Collecting the Hostname/IP address).
   1. Remember, hostnames are entered in the format of: Printer'sName.subdomain.gac.edu.
   2. It is suggested that you enter the printer's hostname, as it's IP address may change over time. However, if the hostname for what ever reason does not work, the IP address is fine.
6. The drivers for the printer must then be installed.
7. If you are using a Windows 7 platform, simply locate HP under the "Manufacturer" scroll menu, and select HP Universal Printer PS under the adjacent "Printers" scroll menu.
8. If using a Windows XP platform, you will have to locate the exact driver of the printer from the "Printers" scroll menu. If the printer is an HP Laser Jet 4200, locate the "HP LJ 4200" driver.
9. In the next window, if given the option Use the driver that is currently installed(recommended), we recommend you do that.
10. Give the printer a name that the faculty/staff member will be able to identify. (Ex: Department Printer, Color Printer by Huff's Office, Printer outside the door, etc)
11. The printer will then install, and you are given the option to print a test page. Do that.
12. Once test page prints, you can click "Finish" and exit out.

Installing a Printer (Macintosh)

1. Navigate to Apple Menu/System Preferences/Print & Fax as before.
2. Click the + symbol to add printers.
3. Click the appropriate printer from the "Default Browser" or, if the desired printer is not there, add them via Hostname or IP address (See Collecting the Hostname/IP address).
4. If added via IP address make sure to change the name to something that reflect the official printer name (Ex: Department Printer, Color Printer by Huff's Office, Printer outside the door, etc).
   1. Remember, hostnames are entered in the format of: Printer'sName.subdomain.gac.edu.
   2. It is suggested that you enter the printer's hostname, as it's IP address may change over time. However, if the hostname for what ever reason does not work, the IP address is fine.
5. The printer will then appear in the list of installed printer. Make sure to right click on it and "Set as Default Printer" if the faculty/staff member desires that.