2 printers on 1 computer?

[hotponyshoes]

I have a laptop (win 10)
I have a printer that I plug into the laptop via USB when required.

If I get a 2nd, identical printer, what will happen if I plug that one in instead?

I'm guessing windows will recognise it as a different printer as it will have a digital ID.
I presume it will use (or re-install) the existing driver?

Can I use them as 2 seperate printers?
I won't have any need to have them both connected at the same time.

Basically, If I loaded one with a4 paper and one with a5 paper could I just choose which printer to print yo rather than have to go into 'print preference' each time to change the paper size?
(Not exactly what I am trying to do but an equivalent, simpler version!)

 

[chrismac]

Yes, no issues. get both installed and when you go to print select the printer you want to use,

edit I read that too quickly,

can you rename them to suit?

 

[northwest]

When you plug it in for the first time windows will recognise it and if it isn't too confused it will install the drivers as a completely different printer - another one of the same make and model - you then just choose which one you want to print to, you might need to rename it or it could get wasteful.

 

[BrokenBiker]

If you have drivers installed, then plug in a different but identical printer, it will use the same drivers. Or atleast that's how mine has done it (myself and my mother have identical printers)

If you plug both in at once you will be able to select which printer you want to use.

If only 1 is plugged in, that will be the only 1 available at the time and will become the default.

 

[hotponyshoes]

So,
If I go into 'printer settings' I can choose the paper size.

What I want is one printer with A4 and one with A5.

Will I get 2 lots of 'printer settings' allowing me to choose a different set-up for each. or will I only get one if both printers are using the same driver?

 

[BrokenBiker]

So,
If I go into 'printer settings' I can choose the paper size.

What I want is one printer with A4 and one with A5.

Will I get 2 lots of 'printer settings' allowing me to choose a different set-up for each. or will I only get one if both printers are using the same driver?

You will get 1 section for printer setting, you select your paper size then select the relevant printer to send the request to, so if you wanted something in a5, you plug in the printer that has a5 paper, or select that one from the list after selecting the a5 paper setting

 

[Mark 5]

So,
If I go into 'printer settings' I can choose the paper size.

What I want is one printer with A4 and one with A5.

Will I get 2 lots of 'printer settings' allowing me to choose a different set-up for each. or will I only get one if both printers are using the same driver?

Yes you can but you may have to rename one of the printers.

 

[hotponyshoes]

You will get 1 section for printer setting, you select your paper size then select the relevant printer to send the request to, so if you wanted something in a5, you plug in the printer that has a5 paper, or select that one from the list after selecting the a5 paper setting

I was trying to avoid having to do both steps (if that's possible?)

At the moment (I think anyway) if I have a photo on screen and the printer settings are set to 'a4' and 'fit to page' it will print that photo on the whole page. Same if I change the paper and set it to 'a5'

Could I rename the printers, call one 'big' and one 'little'
Load a4 in big, a5 in little, then just choose what printer to print on rather than have to select the paper size each time?

 

[Beanwood]

I may not have understood the question , but if you have two printers named, it will retain values for each - for example I have an A4 Inkjet, and a 4x5" Thermal printer - I just documents to one, labels to the different printer name.

 

[hotponyshoes]

I may not have understood the question , but if you have two printers named, it will retain values for each - for example I have an A4 Inkjet, and a 4x5" Thermal printer - I just documents to one, labels to the different printer name.

That's what it does on mine (but with different printers)

I'm wondering if it will work the same if 2 identical printers are used (and they both use the same driver)?

 

[ajlelectronics]

That's what it does on mine (but with different printers)

I'm wondering if it will work the same if 2 identical printers are used (and they both use the same driver)?

Yes, but rename one for clarity.