Open the Printers and Devices window

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 23 views

Introduction

In today's digital age, having a reliable and efficient printing and scanning system is crucial for any organization. With the advancement of technology, it's now possible to enable scanning on a printer server, eliminating the need to install the printer locally on each client machine. In this article, we will guide you through the process of enabling scanning on a printer server using Windows Server 2012 R2.

Understanding the Basics

Before we dive into the step-by-step process, it's essential to understand the basics of printer sharing and scanning. Printer sharing allows multiple clients to access and print documents from a shared printer on a network. Scanning, on the other hand, involves capturing images or documents using a scanner and sending them to a computer for processing.

Prerequisites

To enable scanning on a printer server, you'll need the following:

A Windows Server 2012 R2 machine with a printer installed
A network connection between the printer server and client machines
A scanner connected to the printer server
The latest printer drivers and scanner software installed on the printer server

Step 1: Install and Configure the Printer Driver

To enable scanning on a printer server, you'll need to install and configure the printer driver on the server machine. Follow these steps:

Open the Printers and Devices window: Click on the Start button and type "Printers and Devices" in the search bar. Select the result to open the window.
Add a printer: Click on the "Add a printer" button and select "Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings."
Select the printer port: Choose the printer port that corresponds to the printer connected to the server machine.
Install the printer driver: Select the printer driver from the list of available drivers and click "Next."
Configure the printer settings: Configure the printer settings as needed, such as paper size, orientation, and resolution.

Step 2: Install and Configure the Scanner Software

To enable scanning on a printer server, you'll need to install and configure the scanner software on the server machine. Follow these steps:

Download and install the scanner software: Download the scanner software from the manufacturer's website and install it on the server machine.
Configure the scanner settings: Configure the scanner settings as needed, such as resolution, brightness, and contrast.
Test the scanner: Test the scanner to ensure it's working correctly.

Step 3: Enable Scanning on the Printer Server

To enable scanning on the printer server, you'll need to configure the printer settings to allow scanning. Follow these steps:

Open the Printer Properties window: Right-click on the printer icon in the Printers and Devices window and select "Properties."
Select the "Sharing" tab: Click on the "Sharing" tab and select the "Enable scanning" checkbox.
Configure the scanning settings: Configure the scanning settings as needed, such as the scanning protocol and the destination folder.

Step 4: Share the Printer with Client Machines

To enable clients to access the printer server and scan documents, you'll need to share the printer with client machines. Follow these steps:

Open the Printers and Devices window: Click on the Start button and type "Printers and Devices" in the search bar. Select the result to open the window.
Right-click on the printer icon: Right-click on the printer icon and select "Properties."
Select the "Sharing" tab: Click on the "Sharing" tab and select the "Share this printer" checkbox.
Configure the sharing settings: Configure the sharing settings as needed, such as the sharing protocol and the access permissions.

Step 5: Configure the Client Machines

To enable clients to access the printer server and scan documents, you'll need to configure the client machines to use the shared printer. Follow these steps:

Open the Printers and Devices window: Click on the Start button and type "Printers and Devices" in the search bar. Select the result to open the window.
Add a printer: Click on the "Add a printer" button and select "Add a network printer with manual settings."
Select the printer server: Select the printer server from the list of available printers.
Configure the printer settings: Configure the printer settings as needed, such as paper size, orientation, and resolution.

Conclusion

Enabling scanning on a printer server using Windows Server 2012 R2 is a straightforward process that requires careful configuration of the printer driver, scanner software, and printer settings. By following the steps outlined in this article, you'll be able to enable scanning on your printer server and provide your clients with a reliable and efficient printing and scanning system.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you encounter any issues while enabling scanning on your printer server, here are some troubleshooting tips to help you resolve the problem:

Check the printer driver: Ensure that the printer driver is installed and configured correctly on the printer server.
Check the scanner software: Ensure that the scanner software is installed and configured correctly on the printer server.
Check the printer settings: Ensure that the printer settings are configured correctly to allow scanning.
Check the network connection: Ensure that the network connection between the printer server and client machines is stable and secure.

By following these troubleshooting tips, you'll be able to resolve any issues that may arise while enabling scanning on your printer server.

Additional Resources

For more information on enabling scanning on a printer server using Windows Server 2012 R2, refer to the following resources:

Microsoft documentation: Microsoft provides detailed documentation on enabling scanning on a printer server using Windows Server 2012 R2.
Printer manufacturer's website: The printer manufacturer's website may provide additional information and resources on enabling scanning on a printer server.
Online forums and communities: Online forums and communities, such as Reddit and Stack Overflow, may provide additional information and resources on enabling scanning on a printer server.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Enabling Scanning on a Printer Server ====================================================================

Q: What are the system requirements for enabling scanning on a printer server?

A: To enable scanning on a printer server, you'll need a Windows Server 2012 R2 machine with a printer installed, a network connection between the printer server and client machines, a scanner connected to the printer server, and the latest printer drivers and scanner software installed on the printer server.

Q: How do I install and configure the printer driver on the printer server?

A: To install and configure the printer driver on the printer server, follow these steps:

Open the Printers and Devices window: Click on the Start button and type "Printers and Devices" in the search bar. Select the result to open the window.
Add a printer: Click on the "Add a printer" button and select "Add a local printer or network printer with manual settings."
Select the printer port: Choose the printer port that corresponds to the printer connected to the server machine.
Install the printer driver: Select the printer driver from the list of available drivers and click "Next."
Configure the printer settings: Configure the printer settings as needed, such as paper size, orientation, and resolution.

Q: How do I install and configure the scanner software on the printer server?

A: To install and configure the scanner software on the printer server, follow these steps:

Download and install the scanner software: Download the scanner software from the manufacturer's website and install it on the server machine.
Configure the scanner settings: Configure the scanner settings as needed, such as resolution, brightness, and contrast.
Test the scanner: Test the scanner to ensure it's working correctly.

Q: How do I enable scanning on the printer server?

A: To enable scanning on the printer server, follow these steps:

Open the Printer Properties window: Right-click on the printer icon in the Printers and Devices window and select "Properties."
Select the "Sharing" tab: Click on the "Sharing" tab and select the "Enable scanning" checkbox.
Configure the scanning settings: Configure the scanning settings as needed, such as the scanning protocol and the destination folder.

Q: How do I share the printer with client machines?

A: To share the printer with client machines, follow these steps:

Open the Printers and Devices window: Click on the Start button and type "Printers and Devices" in the search bar. Select the result to open the window.
Right-click on the printer icon: Right-click on the printer icon and select "Properties."
Select the "Sharing" tab: Click on the "Sharing" tab and select the "Share this printer" checkbox.
Configure the sharing settings: Configure the sharing settings as needed, such as the sharing protocol and the access permissions.

Q: How do I configure the client machines to use the shared printer?

A: To configure the client machines to use the shared printer, follow these steps:

Open the Printers and Devices window: Click on the Start button and type "Printers and Devices" in the search bar. Select the result to open the window.
Add a printer: Click on the "Add a printer" button and select "Add a network printer with manual settings."
Select the printer server: Select the printer server from the list of available printers.
Configure the printer settings: Configure the printer settings as needed, such as paper size, orientation, and resolution.

Q: What are some common issues that may arise while enabling scanning on a printer server?

A: Some common issues that may arise while enabling scanning on a printer server include:

Printer driver issues: Ensure that the printer driver is installed and configured correctly on the printer server.
Scanner software issues: Ensure that the scanner software is installed and configured correctly on the printer server.
Printer settings issues: Ensure that the printer settings are configured correctly to allow scanning.
Network connection issues: Ensure that the network connection between the printer server and client machines is stable and secure.

Q: Where can I find additional resources on enabling scanning on a printer server?

A: For more information on enabling scanning on a printer server, refer to the following resources:

Microsoft documentation: Microsoft provides detailed documentation on enabling scanning on a printer server using Windows Server 2012 R2.
Printer manufacturer's website: The printer manufacturer's website may provide additional information and resources on enabling scanning on a printer server.
Online forums and communities: Online forums and communities, such as Reddit and Stack Overflow, may provide additional information and resources on enabling scanning on a printer server.