When you connect a printer to your PC or add a new printer to your home network, you can usually start printing right away. Windows supports most printers, and you may not need to go out of your way to install special printer software.
If you are using Windows 8.1 additional printer driver and support is available through Windows Update. For those of you who don't know about printers, here we summarize how to fix a printer not detected by a computer on Windows 7:
In most cases, all you have to do to set up the printer is connect it to your PC. Just connect the USB cable from your printer to an available USB port on your PC, and turn on the printer. If you have a new wireless printer that hasn't been added to your home network, read the instructions that came with the printer to learn how to add it. Check the printer manufacturer's website to learn more and get the latest software for your printer.
Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, then tap Change PC settings. (If you are using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)
Tap or click PCs and devices, and then tap or click Devices. If your printer is installed, it will appear under Printers. If your printer is not listed, tap or click Add device, then select your printer to install it.
Installing tutorials:
- Click the Start button, and then, on the Start menu, click Devices and Printers.
- Click Add printer.
- In the Add Printer wizard, click Add a local printer.
- On the Select a printer port page, make sure that the Use existing port and recommended printer port buttons are selected, and then click Next.
- On the Install printer driver page, select the printer manufacturer and model, and then click Next.
- If your printer is not listed, click Windows Update, then wait while Windows checks for additional drivers.
- If none is available and you have an installation CD, click Have Disk, and then browse to the folder where the printer driver is located. (For additional help, see the printer manual.)
- Complete the additional steps in the wizard, and then click Finish.
Tips:
You can print a test page to make sure the printer is working properly. If you have installed the printer but to no avail, check the manufacturer's website for troubleshooting information or driver updates.
To install a network, wireless, or Bluetooth printer
If you are trying to add a network printer in your office, you usually need the name of the printer. If you can't find it, contact your network administrator.
- Click the Start button, and then, on the Start menu, click Devices and Printers.
- Click Add printer.
- In the Add Printer wizard, click Add network, wireless or Bluetooth printer.
- In the list of available printers, select the one you want to use, and then click Next. (If your computer is connected to a network, only printers listed in Active Directory for your domain are shown in the list.)
- If prompted, install the printer driver on your computer by clicking Install driver.
- Administrator permission required
- If you are asked for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
- Complete the additional steps in the wizard, and then click Finish.
Available printers can include all printers on the network, such as Bluetooth and wireless printers or printers that are plugged into another computer and shared on the network. you may need permission to install some printers. You can make sure the printer is working by printing a test page. Once your printer is installed, you can keep it up to date with automatic Windows 7 driver updates.
Make sure the printer power cord is connected to an electrical outlet and the power switch is turned on. If you are printing to a shared printer or a printer on the network, make sure all the necessary computers and routers are also turned on. If your printer or other equipment is plugged into a surge protector or backup power supply, make sure the hardware is plugged in and turned on as well.
If you are using a wired printer, make sure the printer cable is properly connected from the printer to your PC. For wireless printers, check the wireless connection. Make sure the printer's wireless option is turned on and available. Many printers have a button that displays a blue wireless icon when wireless is available.
Next, run the printer's wireless connectivity test. Read the instructions that came with the printer or check the printer manufacturer's website for instructions on how to do this. The troubleshooter is an automated tool that can find and automatically fix some problems with your PC. The printing troubleshooter can fix problems by installing and connecting to the printer.
Most printers require driver software to function properly. If you recently upgraded from one version of Windows to another, it's possible that the current printer driver is for an earlier version of Windows. If you've had a recent power outage, virus, or other computer problem, it's possible that the drivers have become corrupted. Downloading and installing the latest drivers for your printer can solve this type of problem.
Three ways to find and install drivers:
- Use Windows Update. Windows Update may have the latest version of your printer driver. Install the software from the printer manufacturer. If your printer came with a disc, that disc may contain software that installs the drivers for that printer. Download and install the driver yourself. you can look for drivers on the manufacturer's website. Try this if Windows Update can't find the driver for your printer, and the printer didn't come with the software that installed the driver.
- For Windows 8.1: To print a web page using Internet Explorer, click the Tools button, select Print, and then select Print again. See what the printed page looks like by selecting Print Preview. Alternatively, print the page by pressing Crtl+P. To print only the image of the page (and not the entire page), right-click on the image, and select Print. In the Print dialog box, select Print again.
- For Windows 7: To print a web page using Internet Explorer, press Crtl + P and select which printer you have installed to print.
Thus the tutorial on How to Overcome Printer Not Detected by Computer On Windows 7, hopefully it can be useful and help my friend in overcoming printers that cannot be connected to Windows 7 devices.