Windows 7 - How do I connect a network printer

This should of coruse be a no brainer, but its windows, so ......

I have an HP color laser ( CP1518ni) connected to a router.

How to I add it so that I can print from any machine???

Its not a local printer nor a printer coonected to another machine.

I tried Add A Printer / Add A Network Printer / The Printer that I Want Isnt Listed /Add a Printer using a TCPIP address or hostname , but it wont find it. I guess I have the wrong IP address.

Can I determine the IP address of the printer from a remote machine?

I give up... whats the trick?

I'm not a networking expert, but I seem to recall reading some time ago that you need to install your router software and your printer software on each computer on the network if you want to network your printer in this way.

You haven't mentioned your router manufacturer, but I would have thought their support site should have a user manual with comprehensive instructions.

My assumption is you have your printer connected to a USB port of your router ? - if that is the case you will need to share it so that anyone on your network can use it.
If you can see it as a device on your network, right click on it and choose "share", give it a share name then go to control panel and add a printer using the local port setting where you would use \\device\share name. I'm recalling from memory how I did mine a while back so apologies if this is not exactly the way but it should be close.You will need to install the printer driver on whatever machine that will use the printer.

you can print a configuration page on the printer itself and it will give you the IP address that is configured in the printer.
IP address is only needed it you are using an RJ45 network jack from the printer to the router. If you are using USB to the router, then you would need to install the routers' print server software on the PC's that would be accessing the printer.

TCP/IP configuration parameters can be configured manually, or they can be automatically downloaded by using DHCP or BOOTP each time the product is turned on. When turned on, a new product that is unable to retrieve a valid IP address from the network automatically assigns itself a default IP address. On a small private network, a unique IP address in the range of 169.254.1.0 to 169.254.254.255 is assigned. The IP address for the product is listed on the
product Configuration page and the Network report.

I don't know much about it but you may start from the manual provided (it's a PDF on the CD-ROM Disk)

Check on,
Page 23 for Network configuration.
Page 25 - 26 for Using product control panel.
Page 44 for Control panel menus.
Page 68 for Print information pages.

Hope it helps you.

Thanks for the replies guys.

Ya, when I got stuck, I downloaded the manual (hate reading those), and finally found instructions to print a configuration page. A dozen clicks later on the printer I got the config page which gave me the ip address (I indeed had it wrong).

Went back and tried Add A Printer / Add A Network Printer / The Printer that I Want Isnt Listed /Add a Printer using a TCPIP address or hostname , entered the name. It then prompted me for info on my network card. etc etc Got through all that, selected my printer, installed the drivers, and all appeared fine.

Murphy's law then kicked in - Did a test print, but it errored out – as the printer was not ‘Ready” given it was still in config mode. I tried to get out of config mode, but it would not stop printing full color demo pages. Finally got those to stop and now I am out of magenta toner !!

This will need to wait a few days now , but I am closer!

Best luck then

Hi Mediaman
Keep us posted if you did manage it. People will learn from it.

Still no luck.

The macbook and ipad work perfectly. Wirelsss printing as desgined.

But Windows, not a chance.

I can connect and print to the printer, it shows up in the queue as "Printing", and then about a minute later changes to "Error-Printing"

It should not have to be this complicated.

I am going to play it super smart and give up. Bought a $39 Samsung mono laser printer and am returning to do real work. I am done spending 95 percent of my computer time on configuration.

I may cool off later, but for now this is the best solution.

i have 2 printers on my home network
I have each connected to a pc not the router.

i installed it as network(shared) printer used the share menu to get it on line through the printer properties. also the usb connection.Along with the network name of the pc and the printer model.
i installed the drivers on each machine in my network by using the network places clicked on the shared printer and then windows installed the drivers
using this connection method the pc must be on line that has the printer actually installed.
from then on its the usual way of printing from an application.