Connect Windows NT 4.0, Windows 95, and Windows 98 clients

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To connect Windows NT 4.0, Windows 95, and Windows 98 clients

  1. Open Printers and Faxes.

  2. Double-click Add Printer, and then click Next.

  3. Click A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer, and then click Next.

  4. Click the printer in Connect to this printer.

    Or, in Name, type the name of a printer on your network using the following format:

    \\server_name\share_name

  5. Follow the instructions on the screen to finish connecting to the printer.

Notes

  • To open Printers and Faxes, click Start, and then click Printers and Faxes.

  • After you complete these procedures, the printer driver downloads automatically, and the icon for that printer appears in your Printers and Faxes folder.

  • To connect a printer to a Windows NT 4.0, Windows 95, or Windows 98 client, you must install the print drivers for these clients on the print server. During connection, the print driver downloads to the client without the need for the original compact disc or discs.

  • To install additional printer driver for previous Windows NT clients and for Windows 95 and Windows 98 clients, see Related Topics.

  • If directory services is not installed, double-click My Network Places to locate the print server and the printer you want to connect to. Then, right-click the printer and select Install.

  • If directory services is installed (directory service clients are available for Windows 95 and Windows 98 only), you can use Active Directory to find the printer you want to connect to. Right-click the printer's name, and then click Connect.

  • For Windows NT 4.0 clients, the print driver is automatically downloaded if it does not exist. If it already exists, it is updated on the print server. For Windows 95 and Windows 98 clients, the print driver is downloaded automatically only the first time (if it does not exist). When an updated driver is installed on the print server, the printer driver must be updated manually from the print server.

Information about functional differences

  • Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.

See Also

Concepts

Connect to a printer on a network
Add printer drivers for other versions of Windows
Manage printers from a browser
Connect to a printer with a browser