4. Connecting Printers and Other Peripherals
In this chapter, you find out how to connect your new computer to printers and other USB devices.
Your Windows 10 computer doesn’t operate in a vacuum. To get the most out of your machine, you might want to connect it to other devices—such as a printer or even your living room TV.
Connecting Devices via USB
Most external devices connect to your PC via USB. This is a type of connection common on computers and other electronic devices; it carries data and provides power for some connected devices.
USB is popular because it’s so easy to use. All you have to do is connect a device via USB and your computer should automatically recognize it.
USB
USB stands for universal serial bus and is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s. On today’s computers, you may find a mix of traditional USB Type-A ports and the smaller USB Type-C ports that are common to smartphones and other mobile devices.
Connect a Peripheral Device
You can connect a variety of peripherals to your computer via USB. These include mice, keyboards, digital cameras, external hard drives, and scanners.
Connect one end of a USB cable to your new device.
Connect the other end of the cable to a free USB port on your PC.
In most cases, Windows recognizes the new devices and automatically installs the proper system drivers and files. If Windows can perform multiple actions for a given device (such as viewing or downloading photos from a digital camera), you might be prompted to select which action you want to take. Click the prompt to make a selection.
USB Hubs
If you connect too many USB devices, you can run out of USB connectors on your PC. If that happens, you can buy an inexpensive add-on USB hub, which lets you plug multiple USB peripherals into a single USB port.
Connecting a Printer
Most users connect printers to their computers. You can connect both inkjet and laser printers, as well as multifunction printers that offer scanning, copying, and even faxing features. Most printers today can connect either wirelessly (via Wi-Fi) or via a USB connection.
Connect a Printer via USB
For many users, the easiest and most stable way to connect a printer to a PC is via a USB cable. Most new printers come with USB cables in the box, or you can purchase a compatible cable at your local electronics store.
Connect one end of a USB cable to the USB port on your printer. (Some printers have a USB Type-B port, which requires a USB Type-B–to–USB Type-C cable to connect to your computer.)
Connect the other end of the USB cable to a USB port on your computer.
Connect the printer’s power cable to a power outlet.
You must now install the printer within Windows. Click the Start button to open the Start menu.
Click Settings to display the Settings window.
Click Devices.
In the left-hand column, click to select Printers & Scanners.
In the right column, click Add a Printer or Scanner and let Windows search for it.
Your printer’s name should appear in the resulting list. Select it and click Add Device. Then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.
Connect a Wireless Printer
Most printers today offer the option of connecting to your computer wirelessly via Wi-Fi. This offers the convenience of placing your printer anywhere in your house without having to physically tether it to your PC.
Power on your printer and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to connect it to your Wi-Fi network.
On your computer, click the Start button to open the Start menu.
Click Settings to display the Settings window.
Click Devices.
In the left-hand column, click to select Printers & Scanners.
In the right column, click Add a Printer or Scanner and let Windows search for it.
Your wireless printer should appear in the resulting list. Select it and click Add Device. Then follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation.
Connecting Your PC to Your TV
If you want to watch Internet streaming video (from Amazon Prime, Netflix, YouTube, and other services) on your TV, you can simply connect your TV to your PC via an HDMI cable. After you connect your TV and PC this way, anything you watch on your PC displays on your TV screen.
Connect via HDMI
HDMI is the easiest way to connect your PC to your TV. HDMI stands for high-definition multimedia interface, and it has become the connection standard for high-definition TVs. All newer TV sets have two or more HDMI inputs, which you typically use to connect cable boxes, Blu-ray players, and the like. HDMI transmits both audio and video signals.
Most new computers—both desktops and laptops—have either a full-sized or mini HDMI port. (Laptops are more likely to have a mini HDMI port.) All you have to do is connect the appropriate HDMI cable between your two devices.
Connect one end of an HDMI or mini HDMI cable to the HDMI port on your computer.
Connect the other end of the HDMI cable to an open HDMI connector on your TV.
Switch your TV to the HDMI input you connected to.
On your computer, click the Notifications icon on the taskbar to display the Actions panel.
Click Project.
Click Duplicate to display content on both your computer screen and the TV screen. Or…
Click Second Screen Only to display content only on the TV screen and blank the computer screen.
Mini HDMI Connectors
Not all PCs have full-sized HDMI ports. Some laptops have mini HDMI connectors, which require the use of a special HDMI cable with a mini connector on one end and a standard-sized connector on the other.
Wirelessly Mirror Your Computer Screen
If you have a so-called smart TV or have a streaming media player (such as Amazon Fire TV or Roku) connected to your TV, you can wirelessly mirror the contents of your computer screen to that TV. You just have to have your TV connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your computer.
Enable the screen mirroring feature on your TV or streaming media player.
Click the Notifications icon on the taskbar to display the Actions panel.
Click Connect.
Windows searches for connected display devices on your wireless network. Select your TV or streaming media player from the list and then follow the instructions on your TV screen to proceed.
