Networking a Printer

Message

Sand · #1 Post by **Sand** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 9:12 am

Hi,
I'm not sure if I picked the right forum for this, but I have a printer connected to my desktop, and I'm trying to share it with my laptop(T42DXU). In the past, I usually sent files or documents to the desktop as email attachments, and then printed them from there.

I've searched online, bought two computer books and followed the instructions in them, using the Add Printer Wizard, but so far it does not send anything directly from the laptop to the printer. Under "Printers" it shows the icon as having the hand under it showing it's shared, and the Wizard says everything worked.

One thing I'm confused about is that the instructions say 'If I have a Plug and Play printer that connects through a USB port I do not need to use the Wizard. and to 'plug the printer's cable into my computer or point the printer toward my computer's infrared port, and turn the printer on and Windows will automatically install the printer.' How does that happen?

I'm pretty sure they are both Plug and Play, but I don't understand those steps. If I have Wireless, would I need to plug anything into the laptop from the printer; and if so, which printer plug would it be, and where on the laptop?

Thanks in advance,
Sand

#2 Post by **daeojkim** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 11:05 am

Are you using a router to connect the computers to the internet? Then it is easy. Just set the printer in your desktop as share. Go to "Start -> Printer and Faxes -> right click on the attached printer -> sharing -> check "share this printer" -> name the share name.

Then in the notebook add printer when wizard pops up check "A network printer ....." -> "Browse for a printer" -> you should be able to see the printer conected to your desktop.

If you do not see the printer check to make sure that workgroup name is same on both computers. right click "My computer" -> properties -> "Computer name" tab.

As long as both the desktop and notebook are using the same OS there is no need for drivers since the drivers from the desktop will be installed on your notebook automatically. If OS is different then your desktop has to have the printer driver for your notebook's OS version.

Sand · #3 Post by **Sand** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 4:56 pm

Well, I've been working on this for hours, and it's not working. (Is Networking the same as Sharing? Do I need a 'domain'?)

I don't know what is means to leave the printer's spool file on the desktop.

I am using a Linksys router, and set my printer to Share, and made sure the names of Computer and Workgroup are the same. Is the 'name' the same as 'computer description'?Whenever I type in the computer
name, I cannot erase the old one, and it has a period at the end, which a box says is invalid, but will not delete.I don't know if that means anything.
The OS is XP Pro for both.

Thanks,
Sand

Sand · #4 Post by **Sand** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 7:22 pm

Sorry, my mistake; I ~did~ download the XP Pro on the desktop, as well as the notebook, but I just noticed under System Properties that the Home Edition is still listed there. Does this mean that the Pro version did not override the previous Home Edition?

Could this be the problem?

Also, where the computer name is listed under Properties, there is a period after the word, and it will not delete and a box says that this is invalid, and the OK is grayed out, so apparently I can only change the Computer Description .

This is getting me so rattled..
TIA,
Sand

a31pguy · #5 Post by **a31pguy** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 7:32 pm

Sand wrote:Sorry, my mistake; I ~did~ download the XP Pro on the desktop, as well as the notebook, but I just noticed under System Properties that the Home Edition is still listed there. Does this mean that the Pro version did not override the previous Home Edition?

Could this be the problem?

Also, where the computer name is listed under Properties, there is a period after the word, and it will not delete and a box says that this is invalid, and the OK is grayed out, so apparently I can only change the Computer Description .

This is getting me so rattled..
TIA,
Sand

another way to get the full computer name is:

start -> run -> "cmd"

type "net config workstation"

the computer name is listed there. To exit type "exit"

No - you don' t need a domain to share a printer. however you do need :

"microsoft file and print sharing" added to the network connection under local lan adapter.

as far as spooling is concerned. When you print - the print job gets "spooled" to disk as it's fed over the network, bit by bit to the printers memory. Don't worry about this - it's for hi-cap server based printer queues.

so what is the exact problem now?

Note - I have installed this several times and you will find that's is pretty problematic to use dependably. Your best bet is this:

-get a wireless print server for USB. Connect it to the linksys router and install the software on your laptop.

HP and linksys make excellant USB Wireless external Print Servers - this way you can put the printer where ever you want and everyone can access it. Both the desktop and the laptop.

MadeInJapan · #6 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 7:54 pm

I Second that you have to add "microsoft file and print sharing" I worked for hours with what sound like some of the same issues once with no success and that was not added. Right click yoiur network places, right click you network connection and select "properties." If you don't see "microsoft file and print sharing," then add it. I bet you connect after that.

Sand · #7 Post by **Sand** » Fri May 27, 2005 8:23 am

Hello to everyone that repllied to my query about this; I'm sorry it's been so long getting back to you, but I had checked off to be notified of any replies, but did not receive any notifications, so I did not know there were any. I've been having a problem with my email, so that could have been what happened.

I did try all of the suggestions offered here many times. The only thing I have not done yet is purchase the USB printer router to add to my Linksys router.

I can't understand though why my desktop still says it's got the XP Home Edition OS when I installed the XP Pro edition on it. I uninstalled the Home Edition, and deleted everything to do with it, but the Windows screen still says it. But I guess that's off topic. But I wondered if that had any bearing on this not working, because they both have to have the same OS.

But I wanted to thank everyone for your suggestions,
sand

JHEM · #8 Post by **JHEM** » Fri May 27, 2005 8:42 am

Sand,

The OS doesn't matter, you could be running XP Pro on one computer and W98SE on the other, they needn't be the same.

What must be the same is that both computers are members of the same Network, e.g. MSHOME, WORKGROUP, etc.

On the desktop computer that is physically connected to the printer, go into the printer properties and make certain it is set as "Shared".

On the T42, start the "Add Printer" wizard and tell it that the printer you want to add is a Networked printer. The Wizard will search your network for shared printers and install the drivers for them automatically when found.

Note! - Your desktop MUST be turned on and running in order to find and or use the printer!

Report back.

Regards,

James

Sand · #9 Post by **Sand** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 4:20 pm

Hello,

I'm reporting back as requested, to say that I could not make this work even though I followed everone's directions, so I am just going to give up the idea of trying to print with both computers, and just buy another printer to add to the laptop. I'm wondering now if there is one printer that is better than another for this laptop? I need to have a flatbed. Except HP.

Thanks for all the feedback and help,
Sand

a31pguy · #10 Post by **a31pguy** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 6:01 pm

Sorry to hear that it's not working.

Could you perhaps have a firewall turned on in the laptop? That can cause issues if you are blocking netbios over ip ports that are needed.

If you need a flatbed - look at the HP Officejet 7400 series.

Sand · #11 Post by **Sand** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 8:01 pm

a31pguy,

I didn't want to use HP anymore, because that's all I've had since I first got into computers six years ago, and have had so many troubles with them that it's left a bad impression with me for that company. I actually just gave away the computer I've been trying to connect to the printer, along with the printer, because it was just the last straw for me with them.

I know that IBM does not make printers, but they do sell one. Is it the same quality as they themselves are? I just don't want to have any more problems with computers or peripheals.

thanks,
sand

MSR_Steve · #12 Post by **MSR_Steve** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 9:11 pm

I've had good luck with Brother printers (laser, anyway). If I remember correctly, Lexmark used to be part of IBM and had a good reputation in the past. However, it's been several years since I used one so I don't know what their current rep is.

a31pguy · #13 Post by **a31pguy** » Wed Jun 01, 2005 10:51 pm

I just don't want to have any more problems with computers or peripheals.

Hehehe - neither do I!

slagmi · #14 Post by **slagmi** » Thu Jun 02, 2005 11:13 am

Sand

Run the Network Setup Wizard on the XP Pro system. Right click My Computer, click the Computer Name tab, Click Network ID.

When prompted to make a Network setup floppy do so and run it on the other system, the XP Home one.

Now I'm assuming the already-shared printer is on the XP Pro system:
Click Start, click Run. Type secpol.msc then press Enter. In the Local Security Settings Window click Local Policies then click Security Options.
Make sure Network Access: Sharing and Security Model is set to Classic and if not change it. DON'T change any of the other interesting settings you'll find here!

Finally, Make a user account on the system the printer is attached to with the same name and password as you use on the system you want to print from.

Now you should be able to browse for, find and print to the shared printer.

Sand · #15 Post by **Sand** » Fri Jun 03, 2005 9:24 am

Slagmi,

I'm sorry, but you must have missed my last post (I think it may have been under another subject, possibly Printers) explaining that I just gave up with that idea, if fact, gave away the computer and the printer. It wasn't just that this connection didn't work, but I had already been having so many problems just getting the computer itself to start up and work, for so long, that I couldn't continue anymore with it.

I'm going to use my Thinkpad for my only computer and hopefully purchase a new printer that I will be able to do the same thing with. So maybe I will be able to use your suggestions for that one if I run into any problems, but hopefully, I will not need them.

I appreciate your help,
thank you,
Sand