How can I install a printer twice !

[Roger46]

I use two types of paper, one ordinary (in the ordinary paper tray), one coloured (in the rear tray), hence with XP I installed my Canon MP560 printer twice, one with properties for the ordinary tray, one with properties for the rear tray. Then I can select which paper I want by selecting which printer (and just naming them differently ie CanonMP560 ordinary and CanonMP560 colour )! I just copied the first installation, pasted it for the second installation, then changed the properties to suit. My installation is WIFI, and now that I am with Win7 I can find no way of having the same set up. Does anyone know how can I install the same printer twice ?

 

[Prof Kerfuffle]

Maybe you could have it connected by WIFI and USB or WIFI and Ethernet through homegroup (just a suggestion but it may not be practical to some people)

 

[Roger46]

Yes, previously I have had it installed via #1 USB and then #2 via WIFI, but the location of the printer now and the new PC with Win7 makes it impractical to install it via USB. I'm surprised that with Win7 there is no way I can't simply force it to install it twice !

 

[Erwin Hofmann]

How can I install a printer twice in Windows 7

I know its being a while since this question was raised and I’m sure everyone concerned found its own answer. But since I searched for an answer my self yesterday and could not find anything reasonable I thought I post my solution here … for future reference …

First thing first, it’s possible. Yes you can install the same printer twice with different printer preferences for each (don’t let you tell otherwise, even from Microsoft employs). Secondly, yes Windows 7 makes it a bit confusing, because it displays only one instance of the installed printer in its Control Panel Printer section (Microsofts wisdom) … anyway here is how to do it.
I assume you have installed your printer.

1. Go to [Control Panel] -> [Devices and Printers] and select [Add a Printer]
2. Now select [Add a local printer]
3. Select the set port of your printer in [Choose a printer port], commonly USB001 etc.
4. In [Install the printer driver] select your printers Manufacturer and Model
5. [Next]
6. In [Which version of the driver do you want to use?] select [Use the driver that is currently installed]
7. Enter a name for this new printer reference in [Type a printer name]

So, what we have now is a new printer reference, a reference you can see and select in the [Print] window printer selection [Name]. What we have to do now is to setup this printers individual settings

1. Go back to [Control Panel] - [Devices and Printers] and select your printer (clicking)
2. Select [Customize your printer]
3. In [Select a printer] select your printer the same way as you would in the [Print] menu
4. The [Print property] window pops up and you can set your individual printer settings here

Voilà, confusing but easy, happy computing …

Erwin Hofmann

 

[MarshallAbrams]

I installed the second printer with a different name as advised. But it won't print. The queue shows the document. It won't print the test page either. What should I try?