Installing Printers for Windows

Overview

Adding a Printer

To use a campus network printer, you need to install the driver intended for that printer on your computer. Windows OS devices can use Rensselaerʼs printers.win.rpi.edu server, which makes installing a printer very easy.

Before installing the printer, you will need to know the name of the printer you want. Check the list of public printers, sorted by type and sorted by location, for reference.

You will find it helpful to first configure your Windows account to authenticate with printers.win.rpi.edu. Doing this avoids having to supply your User ID and password whenever you print.

Procedures

Configuring your Windows Account

NOTE: When you configured a Rensselaer laptop, you probably did the steps below. If so, you can skip to the next section on installing a printer.

• Open the Windows settings tile and then the Control Panel.
• Select Small icons from the View by drop-down list, and then click on Credential Manager.
• Click on the Windows Credential icon.
• In the Stored credentials for automatic logon window that appears, click on Add a Windows credential.
• In the window that appears:
  1. Enter printers.win.rpi.edu in the Internet or network address field.
  2. In the User name field, enter win\‹YourUserID› (for example, win\smithq3). Be sure to use a backslash (\).
  3. In the Password field, enter the password for your RCS UserID.
  4. Click OK and close the various windows.

Installing a Printer

• Connect to the campus network via either a wired or wireless connection.
• Press the Windows key + R on the keyboard.

Type \\printers.win.rpi.edu.

• If prompted, log with win\‹YourRCSuserID› and your RCS password.
• Double-click the printer you would like to install.

This will install the printer driver and automatically add the printer to devices you can access to print.

Repeat the above process as needed to add more printers.

Disconnecting from \\printers.win.rpi.edu 

1. In some instances you may need to disconnect from \\printers.win.rpi.edu and reconnect.  For example, if you are using a special print account and you login to \\printers.win.rpi.edu with that account but then need to switch back to your account:
   • Press the Windows key + R on the keyboard
   • Type net use
   • This will list the servers you are connected to.  If \\printers.win.rpi.edu is listed and you need to disconnect
   • Type net use /delete \\printers.win.rpi.edu
     You should get a message:  '\\printers.win.rpi.edu was deleted successfully.
   • Type exit
     • this will exit you from the command line

Error message trying to connect to network printer

Recent issues connecting to network printers, primarily from personal computers/laptops including those purchased through the Mobile Computing Program, has been determined to be caused by Microsoft windows updates.  If you are experiencing a problem connecting to a network printer, until Microsoft resolves this problem, DotCIO is recommending the use of Mobility Print as a temporary solution:
https://itssc.rpi.edu/hc/en-us/articles/360008323432-Mobility-Print

While this is primarily for mobile devices it does work for Mac OS and Windows computers.  However, printing to the plotters in the VCC building is still problematic with this resolution.  If you need to print to plotters, it is recommended to use the computers in the lobby of the VCC.

Last Reviewed: 30-Jan-2022