Networked Printer Portal Properties and IP Address Troubleshooting in Windows Vista

Refer to the Laser or Inkjet section for information on troubleshooting networked printers in Windows® Vista®.

Note: As of April 11, 2017, Windows Vista customers are no longer receiving new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free or paid assisted support options, or online technical content updates from Microsoft. This article will no longer be updated and remains for information only. Please visit the Microsoft site for the full end of support statement.

Table of Contents:

Please choose whether you have a Laser printer or Inkjet printer.

1. I Have an Inkjet Printer
2. I Have an Laser Printer
3. Opening the Login Page of the Router

1. Inkjet Printers

1. Make sure the computer can access the Internet.
    

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2. Make sure the portal properties and IP address settings are correct.
   
     To check the portal properties and IP settings, perform the following steps:
   1. Click the Start button.
   2. Click Control Panel.
   3. Click Printer or Printers.
   4. Right-click the desired printer.
   5. Click Properties.
   6. Click Ports.
   7. Make sure there is check mark next to the desired printer that has the printer model followed by (Network) listed in the Printer column.
   8. Click Configure Port.
   9. Click on the desired printer.
   10. Click Configure.
   11. Make sure Obtain IP Address Automatically is selected.
   12. Click OK.
   13. Click Close.
   14. Click Close again on the printer properties window.
    

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3. To prevent your router from giving the printer different IP addresses (and possibly loose connection), it is recommended that you configure the router to always give the printer the same IP address. That process differs from router to router, refer to the wireless router documentation or contact the wireless router manufacturer, for more information on accessing the router, refer to the Opening the Login Page of the Router section.
    

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4. Once the router has been configured, power off the printer for 1 minute and then back on.
    

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5. Restart the computer.

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2. Laser printers

1. Make sure the computer can access the Internet and print a Network Configuration Report from the printer, for more information on how, refer to the user's guide. Refer to Dell Knowledge Base article Downloading and Viewing Printer Manuals for information on how to download and view the user's guide.
    

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2. Make sure the portal properties and IP address settings are correct.
   
     To check the portal properties and IP settings, perform the following steps:
   1. Click the Start button.
   2. Click Control Panel.
   3. Click Printer or Printers.
   4. Right-click the desired printer.
   5. Click Properties.
   6. Click Ports.
   7. Make sure there is check mark next to the desired printer listed in the Printer column.
   8. Click Configure Port.
   9. Make sure the Host Name or IP address listed next to Printer Name or IP address: is the same as the Host Name or IP address listed on the Network Configuration Report.
      (If not change the Host name on the Configure Standard TCP/IP Port Monitor window.)
   10. Click OK.
   11. Click Close.
    

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3. To prevent your router from giving the printer different IP addresses (and possibly loose connection), it is recommended that you configure the router to always give the printer the same IP address. That process differs from router to router, refer to the wireless router documentation or contact the wireless router manufacturer, for more information on accessing the router, refer to the Opening the Login Page of the Router section.
    

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4. Once the router has been configured, power off the printer for 1 minute seconds and then back on.
    

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5. Restart the computer.

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3. Opening the Login Page of the Router

1. Click Start.
    

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2. Click Control Panel.
    

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3. Click Switch to Classic View in the upper-left corner when available.
    

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4. Double-click Network and Sharing Center.
    

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5. Click View status.
    

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6. Click Details.
    

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7. Locate and write down the IP address to the right of IPv4 Default Gateway.
    

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8. Open an Internet browser.
    

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9. In the address bar, type http://[Default_Gateway_ip_address], where [Default_Gateway_ip_address] is the Default Gateway IP address you just wrote down (do not include the brackets).
    

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10. Log into the router. For some of the most common router user name and passwords, refer to Table 1.
     

    Manufacture	User Name	Password
    Linksys	leave blank	admin
    D-Link	admin	leave blank
    Netgear	admin	password
    2Wire	None unless one was set up.	None unless one was set up.
    Belkin	None	leave blank
    Apple	Use the AirPort utility
    SMC	Admin	smcadmin

    Table 1: Wireless Manufacture Links, Router Default User Names and Passwords
     

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