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Even if the printer says wireless does it still need to be hooked up to a computer?

I just purchased a wireless printer and it has a USB port for it. I went out to buy the USB because HP doesn't supply them. i have a laptop i bought also thinking that the printer was wireless meaning nothing needs to be plugged into it only the power. i got a small media cart with wheels and i was going to put my laptop on there along with my "wireless" printer. I couldn't get it to work with the USB unplugged. (printing from my laptop) so i set up the driver on my desktop and then plugged in the printer to the laptop. i printed something from my desktop to the printer that's plugged into the laptop. IS THIS WHAT WIRELESS MEANS?! I just purchased a wireless printer and it has a USB port for it. I went out to buy the USB because HP doesn't supply them. i have a laptop i bought also thinking that the printer was wireless meaning nothing needs to be plugged into it only the power. i got a small media cart with wheels and i was going to put my laptop on there along with my "wireless" printer. I couldn't get it to work with the USB unplugged. (printing from my laptop) so i set up the driver on my desktop and then plugged in the printer to the laptop. i printed something from my desktop to the printer that's plugged into the laptop. IS THIS WHAT WIRELESS MEANS?! Legion answered this question earlier and said i can set up my printer on my router....i have tried EVERYTHING and it dont seem to work...is there a way you can do a step by step with me to hook this printer up? i have been working on it for 3 days. :(

Public Comments

1. i think
2. Yes it can operate without being plugged into a computer. There is fine print on HOW it actually works. You must have a home network. The laptop doesn't tell the printer to print. The laptop tells the router to print, then the router tells the printer to print. Laptop>>>>Printer = Wrong Laptop>>>>Router>>>>>Printer = Correct You will need to plug a computer up to the printer initially to set it up. Once the printer has been initialized and added to your network, you can unplug the computer and use the printer. Just add the printer to your network. Also, make sure the wireless is activated on the printer, usually with a button or a setting within the printer menu.
3. A wireless printer requires that you have a wireless access point or wireless router. This, in essence, creates a network, albeit a very small one with just one computer and printer attached, but more can be added. It's hard to give step by step details without knowing what make & model of printer you have, as different printers are done differently from each other. Your User's Manual for the printer should cover that (the User's Manual is usually located on the CD that came with the printer and that also has the printer drivers and setup program for the printer). Most wireless printers require you to connect the printer to a computer using the USB cable to initially setup and configure the printer to your computer or network. Legion is partially right about what he stated, but he is incorrect in saying that you can't connect your computer directly to your printer without a router. The method to connect a wireless printer to a wireless computer is called "Ad-Hoc". Laptop>>>>Printer = Correct Laptop>>>>Router>>>>>Printer = Correct Both options are correct and viable. Ad-hoc network setup: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Ad-hoc-networking-How-the-network-with-the-funny-name-can-make-your-life-easier http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/wirelessfaqs/f/adhocwireless.htm http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/bowman_02april08.mspx http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/setup/adhoc.mspx http://www.cs.washington.edu/research/edtech/presenter/doc/adhoc.html Below is a sample of a setup from another printer that may give some insight: To use the device with any wireless connection, you must run the installation program at least once from the Starter CD and create a wireless connection. Make sure the device is not connected to the network using a network cable. The sending device must have built-in 802.11 capabilities or an 802.11 wireless card installed. The device and the computers that use it must be on the same subnet. Print wireless configuration settings ◦ Press Setup. ◦ Press the right arrow until Print Report appears, and then press OK. ◦ Press the right arrow until Wireless Configuration appears, and then press OK. Check the wireless communication settings. Compare the network’s settings to those on the device’s wireless configuration page, and note any differences. For more information, see Print wireless configuration settings. Possible problems include the following: ◦ The WAP filters hardware addresses (MAC addresses). ◦ One of these settings in the device might be incorrect: communication mode, network name (SSID), channel (ad hoc networks only), authentication type, encryption. ◦ Print a document. If the document still does not print, then reset the device’s network settings and reinstall the device software. To set up wireless communication using the device control panel with wireless setup wizard: The Wireless Setup Wizard provides an easy way to set up and manage a wireless connection to your device. NOTE: To use this method, you must have a wireless network set up and running. 1. Set up the device hardware (see the getting started guide or the setup poster that came with your device). 2. On the device control panel, press the Setup button. 3. Press an arrow button to move to Wireless Menu, and then press OK. 4. Press an arrow button to move to Setup Wizard, and then press OK. 5. Follow the display instructions to complete the setup. Before installing the device software, you may wish to find out the settings of your network. Obtain the information from your system administrators, or complete the following tasks: • Obtain your network's network name or Service Set Identifier (SSID) and communication mode (infrastructure or ad hoc) from the configuration utility for the network's wireless access point (WAP) or the computer's network card. • Find out the type of encryption your network uses, such as Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). • Find out the security password or encryption key of the wireless device. Reset network configuration settings If the device is still unable to communicate with the network, reset the device’s network settings. • Press Setup. Press an arrow button to move to Network, and then press OK. • Press an arrow button to move to Restore Network Defaults, and then press OK. • Print the wireless configuration page and verify that the network settings have been reset. For more information, see Print wireless configuration settings. By default, the network name (SSID) is “hpsetup” and the communication mode is “ad hoc.” Best of luck. Additional investigation into your particular printer shows that it is not a wireless device. From what I can find on the internet on HP's site and others about the HP Photosmart C4640 model printer is that it is NOT a wireless capable printer, it is USB only. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/computers-internet/printers/all-in-one-printer-ratings/models/specs/hp-photosmart-c4640-d21974.htm Even all the manuals for this printer do not state anything about being WiFi/wireless capable and nothing is in there about the setup or configuration for wireless. Basics Guide: http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01705292.pdf User's Guide: http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01705329.pdf Setup Guide: http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01705284.pdf So I'm wondering if the WiFi image on the box is incorrect and is a misprint. I'd go back to the store where you purchase it and return it as it is not as it is stated on the box. Best of luck.