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Thread ID: 20557 2002-06-07 21:42:00 Networking and printers Guest (0) Press F1
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53059 2002-06-07 21:42:00 I'd like to share ONE printer between TWO computers, both of which will have network cards.
(1) Can I network the two computers so that they can share printers but NOT files?
(2) If I can do so, would this also mean that if one computer got a virus, the virus couldn't attack the other computer? (One computer is attached to the Internet; the other is not.)
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53060 2002-06-07 23:51:00 (1) Yes this is pissible, you would only check the box that enables printer sharing in network options.
(2) It most likely wont be able to attack the other computer because your not allowing file sharing, but you should have an up to date virus scanner running on both computers anyway.
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53061 2002-06-08 01:28:00 With regards to the virus...

If you print across the network though then the computer spools a printer file to buffer on the machine to which the printer is connected (or at least it does on my network).

Wouldn't that mean that if the infected computer were printing on the non-infected computer's printer there is a possibility that as the file is spooled a virus may be transferred with it?

I'm asking here because I don't know and it's something I am curious about for my own network.

Thanks

Callum
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53062 2002-06-08 03:01:00 Virus infection is unlikely, but 'you can do anything with software'. A Postscript printer can be caused to do nasty things to any computer talking to it ... Postscript is a powerful programming language.

If you have a hub with a spare port, consider a network printer server. They are becoming cheaper, and don't require a computer to be (a) powered up, (b) non-crashed, (c) not too busy ...
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