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Visitor Printing to Network Printers

  1. Problem

    You're a visitor to the Biomedical & Physical Sciences Building and would like to print on our printers.

  2. Solution

    In Windows 2000: Enter \\earth-pa.pa.msu.edu in the Start->Run menu. You'll be prompted for a username and password - enter public for each. You'll then be presented with a window full of printer queues you can select from.

    In Windows NT: From a DOS prompt (Start->Run->"command") enter "net use \\earth-pa.pa.msu.edu\ipc$ /user:phy-ast\public". You'll be asked to reenter a password for use with the public account - enter "public". This authenticates you with our servers and allows you to browse the printer queues. Now enter \\earth-pa.pa.msu.edu in the Start->Run menu. You'll be presented with a window full of printer queues you can select from.

    If the above didn't work for you, try the following as a workaround
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    To begin, physically locate the printer you wish to use. You'll need to print a test page to identify the printer's model as well as network settings. The menus are slightly different for each model printer so you may need to root around a bit to locate the correct test page. In general, you should press the "offline" button, then locate a "menu" button, or something labeled similarly. Find a test menu and print a "demo" or "test" page. The page you are looking for will list several properties of the printer, including TCP/IP properties. These may be in small printing, and hidden towards the middle of the page. Once you have printed this page, make a note of the printer's model. For example, HP LaserJet 4M Plus. You'll need to visit the manufacturers web site and locate drivers for this printer to download and install locally.

    Some helpful links may be:



    Installing the drivers is beyon the scope of this FAQ.

    To add a new printer port for use with our printers:

    Click Start -> Settings -> Printer. Double click Add Printer then choose Local Printer (uncheck Automatically detect if checked). Select Create New Port at bottom, and choose Standard TCP/IP port from pull-down. Click the "Add port Wizard" - > Next - > Enter IP address from printer test/config page (leave Port Name default). Click "Next" -> Here you can try Generic Network Card (if there is a selection that is more appropriate it is desireable to use it). Click "Next" -> Finish -> Click on the Have Disk button, and point it to wherever you extracted your downloaded printer driver.

    Next, Choose your printer from the list -> Next - Name and default printer choice -> Next - Share settings (Do not share is probably best) -> Next - Print test page (probably good idea) -> Next -> Finish

    There are a few caveats here:
    • - The printer could be restricted to only allow TCP/IP traffic from specific addresses (IE *NOT* your computer)
    • - printer may not work with "Generic Network Card" (this has to do with port numbers and protocols used to do the actual job control)

    If you've got a computer running Windows NT, you may need to add TCP/IP printing services. You'll need the Windows NT CD to do so. Insert the CD. Click Start->Settings->Control Panel->Network. In the network control panel, click the "services" tab at the top of the window. Click "Add", select Microsoft TCP/IP printing from the list. Windows may ask for the CD, in which case you should point it to the appropriate location (D:\ for example). When setup is done copying files click okay to exit all Windows and then restart the computer. You *MUST* reinstall any service packs after adding the TCP/IP printing protocol because it has copied old (unsecure) files to your computer.




Questions not covered in this FAQ? Make sure to send them in!

Last Updated: 2002.01.08 (Friday) Eastern Daylight Time by Richard Boelio