Setup Mac OS X host to print to Windows shared printer

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From the computer of: qmchenry (339 recipes)
Created: Aug 28, 2006

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Life is so much better when we all get along, especially when heterogeneous computer equipment can just work together. Integrating a Mac running OS X 10.4 to support printing to a shared printer on a Windows host is described in this Tech-Recipe.

From the Systems Preferences window (the light switch icon in the dock or Apple Menu -> System Preferences...) click the Print & Fax icon in the Hardware category.

Click the small + button to add a printer.

In the resulting window, click More printers... (it's tempting to click IP printer, but this is for a printer directly connected to the network, not through another host).

At the top of the next window, use the pulldown to select Windows Printing if it is not already selected. Select the appropriate Network neighborhood or workgroup (it will probably pick the correct one for you unless you have multiple workgroups).

A list of hosts should be displayed. Select the one attached to the desired printer and click the Choose button. The printers shared by that host will be displayed. Click on the one you want and select the printer manufacturer from the pulldown list at the bottom. Look for your printer in the resulting list, click it and then click the Add button.

The printer is now ready for use.

Didn't see your printer model in the list? Wondering why there needed to be several thousand different printer models from every printer manufacturer in the world? Don't despair. If you see a model that is close to yours, try it out. If it works, consider yourself lucky and enjoy printing. If you cannot find a preloaded driver that works, you can check with the manufacturers website for a Mac OS X driver for the specific printer and follow their instructions.