Choosing a Driver
Once the connection has been made between a printer and Windows XP Professional, the next step is to apply the specific commands for the printer that will enable it to communicate all the variations of fonts, print enhancements, and print speeds. This is handled through the installation of a device driver. Figure 7 shows the page of the Add Printer Wizard that lists the printer manufacturers and the printer models supported in Windows XP Professional.
Figure 7 Installing a printer driver using the Install Printer Software page of the Add Printer Wizard.
So, what if your printer is not on the list? The first place to check for a device driver is the Web site of the printer manufacturer that you purchased the printer from. You can also check the Microsoft Windows XP Hardware Compatibility List, or HCL for short (see www.microsoft.com/hcl). Look along the bottom of the left side of the screen for the latest updates to the Windows XP Nominated HCL for both the x86 and Itanium (Intel's 64-bit processor now in finalization stages).
The next step is to name the printer, which is handled through the Add Printer Wizard in following pages.