These instructions reflect the method for adding an IP printer under Windows XP. Similar steps should work under other versions, although some windows might look a bit different, etc. If you cannot get these instructions to work on your system, please contact us for assistance.
Note that depending on your OS version and system settings, you might be prompted to enter an Administrator account’s password at some point during this process. Be prepared for this.
Step 0: Is this the first Physics printer on this computer?
If you (or we) have configured another Physics Department printer on this machine already, then you can skip to Step 6, below. Otherwise, proceed to Step 1 to set up UNIX-based print services first.
Step 1: Open the Control Panel
If this is the first Physics Department printer on this machine, then you probably need to first enable UNIX-based printing services. Start by opening the Control Panel, available from the Start menu.
Step 2: Select “Add or Remove Programs”
Click the “Add or Remove Programs” icon, as shown in the illustration here. If you have Classic View enabled, it might look somewhat different; but it should be there somewhere.
Under Windows 7, you will need to navigate to “Programs and Features” for this step instead.
Step 3: Select “Add/Remove Windows Components
From within the Add/Remove utility, select “Add/Remove Windows Components,” as shown in the illustration here.
Under Windows 7, this is instead called “Turn Windows features on or off.”
Step 4: Choose the “Print Services” option
From the list of optional components, select “Other Network File and Print Services” and click “Next.” Note that your list of available services might look different, depending on your OS version and installed components; this is normal.
Step 5: Choose the “Print Services for Unix” option
Be sure that “Print Services for Unix” is checked, and then click “OK” to continue.
Step 6: Open “Printers and Faxes”
Go to the Start menu and select “Printers and Faxes.”
Step 7: Adding a printer
From the Printers and Faxes utility, select “Add a printer” from the list of options in the left-hand column.
Step 8: Beginning the add process
Read the instructions that Windows displays (or don’t), and then click on “Next” to continue.
Step 9: Choosing the connection type
Select the appropriate printer connection type as shown here, and then click “Next” to continue.
Please note that, despite what Windows says, you want to select “Local printer” and not “Network printer” here. Windows has very odd notions of what a network printer is, and is trying to lead you astray. Don’t fall for it! You want a “local” printer here.
Step 10: Create a new port
To use our print server, you will need to create a new LPR port. Select this option and then click “Next” to continue.
Step 11: Specifying server and printer
For the server name, enter: pcgprt1.ph.utexas.edu
For the printer queue name, enter the queue name written on the top or on the front of the printer. This will usually begin with “lw,” followed by the room number (with an underscore “_” instead of a period), possibly followed by a letter if there are multiple printers in the room. For example, the queue name for the printer in our office (RLM 7.126) is lw7_126. Note that, for ancient historical reasons, some printers have queue names matching rooms other than their present homes. (A printer might get moved, but its queue name remains unchanged.) If you cannot find the queue name for a printer, or if the queue name on a printer does not seem to actually work, please contact us for assistance.
Once you have filled in these fields, click “OK” to continue.
Step 12: Select a printer type
Next, you will be presented with a vast list of printer manufacturers and corresponding printer models. Select the type corresponding to the printer that you are setting up, and then click “Next” to continue.
Step 13: Assign a name to the printer
For the printer name, enter whatever name you would like: This is the name that will appear in Print dialog windows where you can select a printer to use. It does not have to be in any specific format; we recommend using something verbose, so you will be able to tell which printer is which later, if you have several printers configured.
Once you have entered a name, click “Next” to continue.
Step 14: Disable printer sharing
At this point, you will be given the option of sharing your printer connection with other machines. Do not do this! It is a trap, and will get you in trouble. Make sure that “Do not share this printer” is selected, and then click “Next” to proceed.
Step 15: Printing a test page
You will now be given the opportunity to print a test page. This is a useful, but strictly optional, way to make sure that the printer is configured and working correctly. Choose “yes” or “no” and then click “Next” to continue.
If you chose “yes,” Windows will print a test page and then ask you for confirmation that it worked. (If it didn’t work, you will be given the chance to go back and change any incorrect printer settings.) Please actually go check to be sure that your test page printed out, and then recycle it afterwards—don’t just leave it sitting in the printer!
Step 16: Review the settings
Finally, Windows will present a summary of the connection that you have just created. Review it to be sure that it looks OK, and then click on “Finish” to dismiss the Wizard.
Step 17: Print stuff
Rejoice, for after a seemingly endless series of steps, your printer is now set up! You, my friend, are ready to get some printin’ done.
