Accessing Printers with WiFi wireless connection

[Molin G Fort]

Base Computer is Pentium Pro 200, Win98SE. Remote computer
is IBM A31 Thinkpad, WinXP Pro (WiFi integrated). The base
computer is served by 2 printers: HP LaserJet IIIP on
parallel port, and HP DeskJet 895SE via USB port. Last
week installed Netgear MR814 Wireless Router and it works
perfectly in that I can now access my DSL internet
connection using the LapTop through the Router connection
to the base computer. (It took quite a while to get all
the connections set up properly on both computers.)

However, I still am unable to access a printer from the
ThinkPad. Before I mess up any settings by poking around
myself, can you detail to me the steps to take to get the
A31 Inkpad to recognize and operate either or both printers
via the wireless access? Do I need to separately install
the printers themselves on the ThinkPad? If not, what DO I
need to do? Can I turn the DeskJet on remotely (as occurs
from the base computer just by sending a document?) Is it
necessary for my base computer to be turned on in order for
the wireless connection to work? My assumption is that the
computer desktop DOES have to be on - but maybe it doesn't.

Please provide as detailed info as you can. Thank you.

 

[Bob Willard]

Base Computer is Pentium Pro 200, Win98SE. Remote computer
is IBM A31 Thinkpad, WinXP Pro (WiFi integrated). The base
computer is served by 2 printers: HP LaserJet IIIP on
parallel port, and HP DeskJet 895SE via USB port. Last
week installed Netgear MR814 Wireless Router and it works
perfectly in that I can now access my DSL internet
connection using the LapTop through the Router connection
to the base computer. (It took quite a while to get all
the connections set up properly on both computers.)

However, I still am unable to access a printer from the
ThinkPad. Before I mess up any settings by poking around
myself, can you detail to me the steps to take to get the
A31 Inkpad to recognize and operate either or both printers
via the wireless access? Do I need to separately install
the printers themselves on the ThinkPad? If not, what DO I
need to do? Can I turn the DeskJet on remotely (as occurs
from the base computer just by sending a document?) Is it
necessary for my base computer to be turned on in order for
the wireless connection to work? My assumption is that the
computer desktop DOES have to be on - but maybe it doesn't.

Please provide as detailed info as you can. Thank you.

Since the printers are connected directly to the W9x PC, that
PC must be turned on for printing to work.

On the laptop, you need to invoke the AddPrinter function - once
for each printer. In the AddPrinter box, specify network printer,
then enter the sharename of the printer as \\BasePC\ShareName.
Once you've done that, then printing should turn the printer on;
assuming that the printer is not really off, just in a power-save
mode.

Before you can add (in the software sense) those printers to your
laptop, you must have a working network between the laptop and the
Base PC. Since adding network printers is somewhat iffy, I advise
sharing folders first, since that has a higher probability of
success. So, take the first step first: make sure you have a
working network between the laptop and the base PC, then share
a folder, then share the printers.