Home network

[Tom Morris]

I have just purchased a new Dell D600 laptop that has
wireless capability built-in. I installed a new linksys
PCI wireless network card in my desktop. Both computers
connect to the internet OK through Comcast. I want to be
able to share the Canon i860 inkjet printer that is
connected to LPT1 of the desktop with the Dell laptop via
the wireless network. Can I send print jobs from the
laptop to the wireless router and then back to the desktop
and then to the printer? I just don't know how to
configure the individual PCs so I can accomplish this.
Can anyone help? All I could do was set up print sharing
on the desktop. I don't know what to do now. Any help is
appreciated.

Tom Morris

 

[nkjg]

Yes, you can set up your network to do this.

You said that you were already able to enable print
sharing on the desktop. I'm guessing that this is the
full File and Printer sharing on the desktop.

Just a note. You will have to disable the Windows
Firewall in order to properly use File and Printer
Sharing. To do this, go to your wireless network
connection properties, and under the "Advanced" tab,
uncheck the box that says "Protect this computer...".

Make sure that you can browse through files on the
desktop computer from the laptop. Go to "My Network
Places", and click on "Add a Network Place". Click on
Browse, and open every plus-sign that you see until you
see the other computer. This may take a while for Windows
to to show the other computer, so be patient. If you're
waiting for more than 5 minutes, then there's something
else that you need to configure. If you can find the
other computer, then you're good to go.

Once you have done this, go to Start->Control Panel-

Printers & Faxes->Add New Printer. Select "Network

Printer", and then browse for the printer on the other
computer.

You never mentioned whether or not you're connecting to
the internet through a router or through ICS. If you're
using ICS, I'd suggest going out and buying a wireless
router. It will provide more security for your computers,
and it will have more settings that you can configure as
opposed to the settings you can make in Windows through
your wireless PCI card. Linksys routers are very easy to
configure and you'll have a very easy time getting it to
connect to your Linksys wireless PCI card that you
already have. Just know that your network is only as slow
as the slowest part. Don't be suckered into getting a
802.11g card just because the sales representative says
that it's faster. Remember that your internet only runs
at 1.5-2 Mbps max, "b" rating runs at 11Mbps, and "g"
rating runs at 54Mbps. Also, depending on what cards you
already have in your laptop and desktop, then there might
not be any point in getting a "g" rated router if both of
your computers only have "b" rated cards.

Hope this helps,

Nick
nkjg/at\interchange/dot\ubc/dot\ca