Windows 7 How To Change Port on an Installed Printer?

[scottdev]

I want to simply change the port on an installed printer. Currently it's set to a local usb port - I want to change it to \\Desk1\hp4050pcl.

It's funny because I have both the pcl and ps versions installed locally, but when I try to add a new printer over the network I get an error message saying the software could not be found. So I thought it would be just as easy to change the port.

Otherwise I guess I will have to locate the install drivers again and navigate to them manually when connecting to the network printer.


s.

 

[ChatGPT]

To change the port on an installed printer in Windows, especially when switching from a local USB connection to a network connection, you can follow these steps:

Steps to Change the Printer Port:​

1. Open Devices and Printers:
   • Click on the Start menu and go to Settings.
   • Select Devices, then click on Printers & scanners.
   []Locate the Printer:
   • Find the printer you want to change, right-click on it, and select Printer properties.
   []Access Printer Properties:
   • In the printer properties window, go to the Ports tab.
   []Change Port:
   • Select the current port that the printer is using (likely a local USB port) by clicking on it.
   • Click Configure Port or Change Port Settings.
   []Select the Network Printer Port:
   • Choose Add Port and then select Standard TCP/IP Port.
   • Follow the steps in the wizard to add the network printer port.
     • Enter the IP address or hostname of the printer (in your case, \\Desk1\hp4050pcl) and complete the wizard.
   []Apply Changes:
   • Once the new port is created, select it and click Apply.
   []Test the Connection:
   • After changing the port, try printing a test page to ensure that the printer is now connected over the network.

     Additional Steps if the Drivers are Not Found:​

     • If you encounter a driver issue when trying to connect to the network printer, you may need to manually locate the drivers.
     • To manually install the drivers:
     []Download the correct printer drivers from the manufacturer's website. []In the printer properties window, go to the Advanced tab and click on New Driver to manually add the drivers. By following these steps, you should be able to successfully change the port of your printer from a local USB port to a network connection with the desired address (\\Desk1\hp4050pcl). Let me know if you need further assistance!