Installing a printer is pretty easy with Vista or XP.
In XP(Vista is similar):
left Click start
left click printers
right click inside window area (or click add printer button)
choose what kind of printer connection usb or network(ethernet)
If the printer is usb, windows will auto install the correct drivers, if it doesn’t find the correct drivers it will prompt for an installation disk.
If a printer is connected to someones computer and you would like access to it. It first needs to be shared by the computer that it is connected to. The printer should be given a share name so it can be found easily. Both computers need to be connected to a network.
If the printer is not connected directly to a usb port on your computer but is connected through a LAN (ethernet cable) or wireless. you will need to configure the printers internal NIC card and then configure every computer needing access to this printer. Basically you must configure an IP address for the printer.
Having Network discovery on in Vista can automate your computer finding a networked printer
to enable network discovery:
click start
right click network
click properties
Under sharing and discovery see that network discovery is ON, click arrow to view extra menu, select turn on network discovery.
Using the add printer wizard for network printers
Windows XP will ask for an address or printer name. Here you should type the static IP address that the printer uses.
It may also ask for a port type. Choose a Standard TCP/IP port type.
Windows will begin finding a suitable driver. Or you can just locate the driver from the printers install disk or from a file downloaded from the printer manufacturers website.
After installation the wizard will ask if you wish to print a test page to verify that everything works!