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Thread ID: 93195 2008-09-07 06:27:00 Sharing a Printer Devie Boy (12457) Press F1
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703203 2008-09-07 06:27:00 Hi Gang
I have a new laptop which is connected to a radio router. My desktop is also connected by wire to the router. Both machines are connected in "Security" mode and work excellantly. The desktop has a printer which I have accessed and configured to "share'', but for the life of me I cannot get the the laptop to print from this printer. The printer will happily print from the desktop. Anyone have any idea how I can get the printer to print from the laptop? NB: I have the desktop going and connected to the router when trying to print to the printer via the laptop, but up to now, now go. I have had comment that I would likely have to install a "printer router"to get the printer to respond. Can anyone help? :nerd:
Devie Boy (12457)
703204 2008-09-07 06:53:00 I assume from the Laptop you have gone into the printer folder, told it to install a networked Printer ? Example (www.imagef1.net.nz)

Edited: thats assuming its XP, if vista its a bit differrent.

If so then the laptop as long as the printer is shared, and on the same workgroup, should see the Printer on the PC.

When you install the printer on the Laptop, it should drag the necessary drivers across the LAN, and of course the PC has to be turned on other wise the Laptop wont find the printer.
wainuitech (129)
703205 2008-09-08 08:35:00 Hi Wainuitech

The laptop is on vista
The printer is on the same workgroup, I think
The printer is on the PC, not the laptop
Any advice. Thanks
Devie Boy
Devie Boy (12457)
703206 2008-09-08 08:42:00 Hi Devie, What make and model is the printer you are trying to connect to ?

Depending on what it is will depend if Vista has the drivers inbuilt or if they need to be downloaded and Installed .

Also have a look through These instructions (technet.microsoft.com) -

Main items to make sure of
Pc and laptop are on the same workgroup
printer is shared on the XP machine, to check go to the printer, right click and make sure sharing and security is selected/ticked
On Vista - make sure network discovery is ON
printer sharing is ON
Password protected sharing is OFF


Once all is set, even without the printer being installed, the printer on XP once shared should be showing in network places in Vista
wainuitech (129)
703207 2008-09-08 09:02:00 Add to above -----

Also what do you have installed in the way of security software - that can be causing a problem as well.
wainuitech (129)
703208 2008-09-08 09:17:00 Thanks for the advice, will check up on it all, bur my wife has now grabbed the desktop and in full song with her game, so will have to wait for an hour, I bet.

I am using a Belkin N wireless router, using the security in that router. Using zone alarm and Avast on both machines
Devie Boy (12457)
703209 2008-09-08 09:39:00 Also found this here - don't know if it works or not, but I will try tomorrow - Mrs wants me out of here :lol:

Lets say the XP PC that has the Printer is called Devie -

On the Vista machine, move the printer to the laptop - install the printer as a local printer Via usb and get the drivers working with the printer connected to the Vista machine .

Then reconnect the printer to the XP machine, make sure it still works, and do the following .

On the Vista machine in the printer properties, create a local port, and in the port name use the \\Devie\printer name .

The printer Name is what its called under the shared Properties . Example ( . imagef1 . net . nz/files/printer_Shared . jpg" target="_blank">www . imagef1 . net . nz) of one of my shared Printers on a XP Pro .

Edited: yes its a damn old MFC but works great, and outlasted many of my other printers .
wainuitech (129)
703210 2008-09-08 09:43:00 Thanks mate

Will let you know how I get on tomorrow

Cheers
Devie Boy:)
Devie Boy (12457)
703211 2008-09-10 08:46:00 Hi Wainuitech

I tried what you have suggested but still not printing.
The laptop recognised the printer and I printed a test page to see it was genuine.
In an earlier post you questioned whether the two computers were in a work group? both computers use the same modem and radio router but workgroup? This may be the sticking point
Workgroup. Where, how, etc?

Thanks mate

Devie Boy
Devie Boy (12457)
703212 2008-09-10 09:12:00 Okay - by default the workgroup for Vista is " workgroup" and for XP Hm its "MSHOME".

Lets make sure both read MSHOME.

In XP Right click My Computer/Properties/Computer Name Tab/ Click the Change button Make sure the workgroup says MSHOME. IF the XP computer is MSHOME leave it as is.

If not change it to MSHOME - it will take a second or two then a reboot is required. Example (www.imagef1.net.nz)

Back in a sec, changing PC's


Okay - in Vista Right Click Computer/Properties- to change the settings, click Change settings Example (www.imagef1.net.nz)
Next on the computer Name Tab, click the Change button Example (www.imagef1.net.nz) then this applies to both XP and Vista make sure the workgroup says MSHOME (www.imagef1.net.nz) - reboots will be required if you change these. Once both are on the same workgroup they should see one another.

Had this exact problem yesterday, for some stupid reason if the PC's were on the workgroup called "Workgroup" they couldn't/wouldn't work, change the PC's to MSHOME and away they went.

The XP computer - is it XP home or Pro ?
wainuitech (129)
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