My printer stopped working so I bought a Canon PIXNA MP495 wireless printer. Everything I read about it said that it was easy to install etc. I am at the very last stage of the installation process where it is connecting to the wireless network but I am having pronlems.

It lists a line of access points that I am supposed to choose from but it will only let me use one. When I choose it I am asked for the Network Key. I have no idea what that is. I have looked at the help screen and the manual but they don't explain whare I can find the Nnetwork Key. I can use the Manual setting but it doesn't explain things either I have a router and have no idea what might have been entered when we installed it.

I need to be able to print the walkthroughs-Help!

The Network Key is the one you defined on your router. Do you see your router's SSID in the list?

I don't know what we might have used for the SSID on our router. None of the words looked like something we would use. I recognize the name of one of my neighbors so it must be picking up other signals. The installation process would only let me connect to one SSID (the other were whited out).

Enter the routers IP in your browser, right in the address bar (Linksys uses 192.168.1.1). If you’re not using A Linksys router, post your model and we can look it up.

This will start the Setup Utility. You'll find the SSID in the wireless section.

Edit -

Actually, the defaults can easily be changed at setup time. From a command prompt enter IPCONFIG -- The Default Gateway should be your routers IP address.

I have a Belkin router.

A Belkin router uses 192.168.2.1 as it's default IP address - try entering it in your browser and see if the setup routine starts. There is no default password.

Here is a link to the PDF Document on Network Troubleshooting for your model printer.
Network Setup Troubleshooting

http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/8/0300003728/01/MP495_NST_U2_V1.pdf

I tried the default IP and it didn't do anything. Is the IP the same as a network key? I also looked at the PDF file for help. Unfortunately now that the printer is installed and working (using a cord), I can't seem to get back to the install screen to set up the wireless part of it. I attached the printer using the USB cord into my computer but I don't get the install screen. The help manual doesn't address this issue (as far as I can tell). Any idea how I can get back to the install screen?

The IP number is not the same as the network key.
If you'd connected to printer via wireless or ethernet cable, it would have its own IP address.

The printer would need the network key to be able to join your wireless network. The network key keeps your neighbors from using your wireless connection.

Now that you have set the printer as a USB printer, it won't use an IP number and won't attempt to connect as a network printer. You don't need the install screen because setup is "plug and play" using USB. Is there any reason you can't continue to use it as a USB printer, since that's the way you have it set up?

Jenny,

I got a wireless printer because I have too many things plugged in around my computer and I am having to use an extension cord stretched into the hall to plug it in. I don't want to have to plug it in and that is why I bought a wireless one. I am afraid that I am overloading my circuits.

I tried to attach the USB cord again last night because that is what I have to do to set the wireless connection but the install screen (that I need to enter the Network Key) didn't come up because I have already installed the printer.

I don't know my Network Key and that is/was the problem and I don't know how to reset the Network Key so it can be used as a wireless printer.

I am wondering if I am going to have to remove the printer and start the installation process over. If I do that, I will still need a Network Key and I don't know what it is and/or how to get it.

Thanks!

You will still need the network key -

On my wireless printer I can use either wired or Wifi connection - the install allows me to set it up both ways even if the wired connection is already established.

Who set up your WiFi network? If you start a command prompt and enter IPCONFIG the Default Gateway should Identify the router's IP Address.

Enter the IP in your browser and you should see the setup routine.

Are you running XP, Vista or Windows 7?

A wired connection won't overload your circuits any more than a wireless one.


The printer has already installed itself as a USB-connected printer so there's no reason why the install screen would come up when you connect it via USB.


You need to find out what the network key is.
In order to do that, you have to get into your router's setup.
Usually you do that by typing the IP number of the router into your web browser and entering your username and password.
You can find the IP number of your router by typing the command
ipconfig
in a command window.
In XP, you get a command window to appear by using the Start button, then Run, then typing
cmd
in the box and OKing it or Entering it.
If you have Vista or Windows 7, you click the Start button and typing
cmd
in the Start Search, then using the Enter key.
After you type
ipconfig
in the command window and <Enter> it, you should get a bunch of information. Where it says "Default Gateway," that is your router's IP number -- the number you want to type into your web browser (web browser is Internet Explorer or Firefox or whatever you're using).
You should get a screen asking for the username and password of your router.

If you've forgotten the username and password of your router, there is a way to reset the router to defaults. But if you've had someone set up your router for you, it would probably be better to let them set up your printer or at least ask them what they did to set up your wireless network. If you reset the router, you'll have to set things up all over again.