If a new printer is placed on the network and shared with everyone, you'll be able to use it -- but only after you tell your computer about it. To add a networked printer to your Printers folder, follow these steps.

1. Click on the taskbar's Start button, and slide the mouse up to Settings and over to Printers. Click on Printers.

2. In the Printers folder, double-click on Add Printer. A helpful wizard program opens.

3. Click Next. Check the Network Printer box to tell the wizard that the printer you want to use is on the network.

4. On the wizard's next page, you can instruct the wizard to find a printer in the (Active) Directory. Or choose the second option to type the printer name or browse for a printer. Click Next.

5. If you chose to search the directory, click Find Now. The wizard returns a list of printers available to you. If you chose to browse for a printer, you also see a list of shared printers in the Browse for Printers box.

6. Highlight the printer you want to add and click Next.

7. If you want the printer to be the default printer (the one your programs will use automatically), click Yes. Click Next again.

8. The final wizard window summarizes the selections you made. If they're OK, click Finish. If the settings need adjustment, click the Back button.

Even if a printer actually exists, you may not be able to see it on the network because you haven't been granted access to it. The administrator is the only one who can fix that for you. But if you can see it, you probably have the right to use it, so go ahead and try.