How to Print From a Laptop Or Desktop Without a Printer Cable

If you have wireless internet connection at home with most of you using laptop computers, you can all have access to just one printer without having to plug a printer cable directly to your laptop. How?

You need to get yourself a router first, particularly a wireless router. This will allow all the computers to connect to the internet anywhere in the house without the need for a restricting LAN cable attached somewhere in your laptop. It will also allow you to connect and communicate to other computers within the network. And it will allow you to access printers and devices within the network. Here is how you are going to set it up:

Step 1: Install the router close to the internet adapter. If you are using wireless internet connection, it is easier to connect. Just unplug the adapter from the back of your computer and plug it to the WAN port of the router found at the back. This is the port separated in color and position from the others. For those using DSL connection or any connection with modem, just remove the Ethernet cable connecting the modem to the back of the computer. You should now connect the modem to the WAN port of the router.

Step 2: Assuming that your laptop is already wireless ready (most of the recent models of laptops are already wireless ready), it will automatically pick up internet signal once you turn on the laptop. Some models need you to flip a switch or press a button to detect wireless connections.

Step 3: Turn on the router and your main computer. Insert the start-up disc that comes with your router. Closely follow the guide. Now you can open a browser and start configuring the settings there. In the address toolbar, key in the IP address of your router. This information is usually found in the manual. Input password and username. It will direct you to a page where you need to change password settings and SSID name to make it more secure. Save the settings and then log out from the page.

Step 4: Your internet is already working. Now you can plug a printer. Use another Ethernet cable and plug one end at the back of the printer and one end at the back of the router.

Step 5: Your computer network should now detect new devices within your network. That computer software should be installed to all your computers including your laptop. After that, go to Control Panel and click "devices and printers" to add it to your local network.

By Alan Cassidy