Printer sharing on a home network

[Fergie]

Tried all the steps that Windows gave me, but my wifes laptop computer cant find the printer attached to my desktop.

She is wireless, and I am wired, but my comp doesnt need to be on for her to use the internet.

What am I missing?

I've done the network setup on both comps, but dont see any printers.

Thanks

Fergie

[Sniggs]

is it Shared?

Try (on her computer) Start/Search/Computers or People
Then search for your computer name. If you find it, double click and anything shared will be there.

Are the workgroups the same? they must match exactly (case sensitive)

[SanDiegoXJ]

does your comp see the printer? if so, is it shared? is printer and file sharing enabled on your network connection? can she contact your computer and find shared files? are you both in the same workgroup?

and if the printer is connected to your comp, your comp will have to be on for her to see the printer. The internet is being routed through your wireless router, the printer is going to be shared by the desktop its connected to...if that desktop is turned off, the printer loses its connection to the network.

[ECKSJAY]

is it Shared?

Try (on her computer) Start/Search/Computers or People
Then search for your computer name. If you find it, double click and anything shared will be there.

Are the workgroups the same? they must match exactly (case sensitive)

Oh GOD you're turning me on right now.

[Fergie]

Sniggs- Did all of that. Workgroups are the same

Dago- I see the printer on my comp just fine, and sharing is enabled on both comps.

I can see her's on the workgroup, but cannot access it. Hers doesnt even see mine.

I've got the comp/printer turned on and working.

[Sniggs]

reboot both?

[Fergie]

Already done that once.

[casm]

I can see her's on the workgroup, but cannot access it. Hers doesnt even see mine.

What model printer is this? A lot of SoHo printers' drivers actually prevent them from being shared out - or, more accurately, they may be able to be shared out, but won't allow network printing. Dumb, I know, but it's how things have moved in the past few years. Also, what OS are both machines running?

[Fergie]

What model printer is this? A lot of SoHo printers' drivers actually prevent them from being shared out - or, more accurately, they may be able to be shared out, but won't allow network printing. Dumb, I know, but it's how things have moved in the past few years. Also, what OS are both machines running?
HP PSC 1400

Both are running XP.

[Fergie]

HP PSC 1400

Both are running XP.
If it matters, both machines are running ZoneAlarm AV and FW.

[casm]

HP PSC 1400

Both are running XP.

OK. Home or Pro?

(Didn't gloss over the ZoneAlarm / AV part... Just curious as to which version of XP for now.)

[SanDiegoXJ]

could be the firewall preventing access to your comps shared files...try shutting that down and see if it works....if so, you just have to make an exception for her computer in the firewall settings

[Fergie]

PRO

I'll check into the FW issue.

[casm]

I'll check into the FW issue.

Good call.

Also check HP's website and make sure that the drivers don't prevent that printer from being used across the network. I've got some ideas beyond this, but would like to hear how these two shake out first.

[RTicUL8]

What make / model wireless router do you have?

I plug my printer into the back of my router. That way I can print from my laptop - even when my desktop pc is turned off. I send to a pre-defined IP address of the router.

[RichP]

What make / model wireless router do you have?

I plug my printer into the back of my router. That way I can print from my laptop - even when my desktop pc is turned off. I send to a pre-defined IP address of the router.

SMC and some older netgears allowed this, great feature, the 7000's even allowed for an external modem for failover, I have close to 50 of them installed in commercial accounts, plugged into a variety of cisco routers. The new SMC's have some real problems which is why I stopped using them.

Step One, open a command line window on yours.
cd \
mkdir test
exit
open an explorer window and go to the 'test' directory, now right click it, select properties and give it a sharename share it out with both read and write. OK
Now with the wifes laptop see if you can find the directory. Use network neighborhood.
Second method after sharing out the printer and giving it a sharename, making sure the wifes workgroup and yours match.
add a printer on the wifes laptop, network printer, \\yourcompsname\printername
see if it finds it during the install.

Third, go to zone alarms web site and do a search on adding printers. Nothing worse than going into an office and finding that 35 desktops are running ZA and can't print...:flamemad: and then having to uninstall it on all of them.

Or solve the entire issue and pick up a HP or Brother laser printer with a network card. Got two network based printers here at the house, an HP color laser and a Brother full duplexing laser. I've seen the brother HL-5250DN 30ppm Laser Workgroup Monochrome Printer on sale at newegg for $194. Network card already installed. I'd just add memory, comes with 32meg but you can add a 128 stick. I just replaced the toner cart -6700- pages for the first time in 4 years. I don't expect to do it again because I put the bigger cart in rated for 6000 pages, the original was rated for 3000.
Yea, I hate windows sharing.

[RTicUL8]

Or get the router that I have:

Wireless MAXg Router with Print Server - thru a USB port.
wep or wpa or wpa2 encryptions.

I'm also able to block my daughter's pc from accessing the internet when I want - currently from 10:00pm to 7:00am

http://www.usr.com/support/5461/5461.jpg

http://www.usr.com/images/products/5461/5461-back.jpg
The USB port on the back is for the printer.

More info here:
http://www.usr.com/products/networking/wireless-product.asp?sku=USR5461&adv=homepage

[87manche]

the PSC software sucks.
Probably the only way you'll get it to install the driver after you get the share available is to plug it into the notebook, then change the port in the printer properties.
the HP PSC software does not support network printing, and that's about the only way to get the drivers to install.
Regarding not seeing the share.
Its likely your firewall, if not then it's something with the WINS resolution. Try making your desktop machine a fixed IP address, then editing the hosts file on the laptop to include that machine name and IP address, or using the UNC path with the IP address directly in it.
Something like this in the network printer wizard:
\\192.168.xx.xx\hpprinter

[crasy1_69]

On my inlaws I had to disable the FW software. They have McAfee. Once that was done I was able to get her laptop to print over the network. Those FW programs block anything that tries to go through the system. Make sure it is disabled on both systems and it should work.

[RichP]

On my inlaws I had to disable the FW software. They have McAfee. Once that was done I was able to get her laptop to print over the network. Those FW programs block anything that tries to go through the system. Make sure it is disabled on both systems and it should work.

There's only one thing worse than Norton Internet security and thats Mcafee, CA runs a close third.

[5-90]

There's only one thing worse than Norton Internet security and thats Mcafee, CA runs a close third.

Interesting. I know MacAfee can't catch a cold without written instructions, but I've always rated Norton fairly hightly.

I've just downloaded AVG and AVGAS to check out - what would you use to replace NIS and NPF? And, why don't you like Norton? I'd really like to know...

5-90

[Beej]

I don't like norton for its bogginess and ram-sucking capability...

[RichP]

Interesting. I know MacAfee can't catch a cold without written instructions, but I've always rated Norton fairly hightly.

I've just downloaded AVG and AVGAS to check out - what would you use to replace NIS and NPF? And, why don't you like Norton? I'd really like to know...

5-90

From a purist point of view cablemodem/dsl modem > hardware firewall with either built in switch or a seperate switch on the lan side of the firewall. Antivirus software running on the PC's and if you want MS XP's firewall, can't hurt. Norton, Mcafee, CA are resource hogs on their 'security' bundles which have the a/v, f/w, browser protection and those annoying pop ups that tell you they just did something, are gonna go do something or recommend something. I've had customers say 'gee, my Mcafee does more than your avg pro, Mcafee tells me so' same with zone alarm and all the other crap whose only purpose in life is to seperate you from your money. The popups are just to reinforce the $50 you just spent.
Now Norton A/V as a stand alone, pretty good product, decent price at sams club and such and for their corporate versions are also well supported. The pay version of AVG [pro] is good, in fact the AVG network version and AVG exchange version are pretty nifty allowing you to push the updates and do installs remotely not to mention a bargain of under a $1000 vs Norton equal for $2700....
I do sell AVG and fact have a link to them on my home page www.rjpsystems.com and so far [knocking on wood] have not had ONE of my customers infected in the 3 years I've been using it.
All my customers who run cable or DSL modems have SMC 7008's for router/firewalls and AVG for anti-virus. Those who have T1's and bigger, up to OC3/20 meg also use the SMC 7008's behind the cisco routers which also have filters as a first line of defense.
I solve alot of problems simply by removing ZA and Mcafee and sometimes reinstalling them but generally replacing with avg.
To me, if you are on broadband and NOT running a seperate hardware firewall you are insane, extremely lucky if you have not had an issue, of course you could have an issue and not know you have one too :D :D :D

[5-90]

As I'd mentioned, I'm giving AVG and AVGAS a go - can't hurt to expand the toolbox with other useful goodies.

I do run a hardwall on my home LAN (I don't recall which, and can't be arsed to go look, honestly...) in addition to the softwall on each system, AND NAT through the router. I haven't had any (detectable) intusions here.

However, I am always open to new ideas...

5-90

[scorpio_vette]

if you haven't gotten your setup to work yet, why don't you get some remote assistance. XP has it build in. all you need is an hotmail/msn messenger login, and you can invite somebody to remotely help you with your computer. they'll be able to see your screen and tell you what to do, or you can give them full control over your computer, and they'll be able to change the settings from wherever they are.

my mother-in-law used to call me with problems all the time. so i showed her how to initiate remote assistance, and now i can fix her problems or show her how to do things while i'm reading forums at home.

[crasy1_69]

that is the same thing i used to do with my inlaws. now i just have them setup like my setup so i have no more issues.