Step 1

Connect the printer to your computer using either a parallel or USB cable. Older-style printers will generally use a wide parallel cable to connect to the printer, while newer printers will probably use a USB cable instead. If your printer has a small square connection on the back, it is a USB printer. If it has a long rectangular connection, it is a parallel printer.

Step 2

Plug your printer into a surge protector or power supply and power it on. Turn on your computer, log on and watch the right-hand side of the screen for a "Found New Hardware" message. This is your indication that the operating system has found the printer and is attempting to install the proper drivers for it.

Step 3

Wait a few minutes, then click on the "Start" button and choose "Control Panel" from the menu. Double-click the "Printers and Faxes" icon and look for your printer. If the printer is shown there, your operating system successfully installed it without a CD.

Step 4

Visit Dell's support website by going to support.dell.com. From there click "Drivers and Downloads" and choose your model printer. Follow the instructions to download and install the driver for your printer. Then right-click on your printer, choose "Properties" and click the "Print test page" button to send a test page to your printer.