Sharing a Printer

[mcp6453]

We're currently on vacation with two laptop computers (one new), a
printer, and a Dlink DWL-730AP travel router. Before I did deeper into
my question, I have a fundamental question about XP SP3. All of my
computers (except my work computer, which probably has group policies
set) will respond to its own IP address by typing Start | Run
"\\192.168.0.101" to show the network shares. The new computer has the
printer attached, and it will not respond to the command. I'm thinking
that if I can fix that problem, the sharing problem will be easy to fix.

I've been sharing printers for years and years, but I seem to have lost
my touch. For the record, both XP firewalls are turned off. Also, Client
for Microsoft Networks and File and Printer Sharing are installed and
active. The router has a firewall, but it is set to allow all LAN traffic.

The problem seems as if some Service is not enabled, but I don't know
what it would be. The new laptop works perfectly at home, but I have
never tried to access a shared folder or printer on it before now.

 

[R. McCarty]

You can't really call it a vacation if your dragging around a mini-IT
department like you describe. Turn the gear off and enjoy yourself.

 

[mcp6453]

Unfortunately that's not an option. It's a working vacation.

 

[R. McCarty]

Just being a pain. These days you almost have to have some kind of
computer/connectivity while traveling.

Does the work PC join a domain ? Unless the computers have a
single common Username/Password on each machine then no trust
relationship is established. With the whole LAN on/operating what
does Entire Network show from the work notebook ? Does the
Workgroup appear for the other laptop & Access Point ?

 

[Anna]

We're currently on vacation with two laptop computers (one new), a
printer, and a Dlink DWL-730AP travel router. Before I did deeper into my
question, I have a fundamental question about XP SP3. All of my computers
(except my work computer, which probably has group policies set) will
respond to its own IP address by typing Start | Run "\\192.168.0.101" to
show the network shares. The new computer has the printer attached, and it
will not respond to the command. I'm thinking that if I can fix that
problem, the sharing problem will be easy to fix.

I've been sharing printers for years and years, but I seem to have lost my
touch. For the record, both XP firewalls are turned off. Also, Client for
Microsoft Networks and File and Printer Sharing are installed and active.
The router has a firewall, but it is set to allow all LAN traffic.

The problem seems as if some Service is not enabled, but I don't know what
it would be. The new laptop works perfectly at home, but I have never
tried to access a shared folder or printer on it before now.

mcp...
Not sure whether the following will work in your specific situation, but
take a look at it...

The following assumes that the PCs on the network are communicating with
each other satisfactorily and that the PC to which the printer is connected
is powered on.

On the computer to which the printer is installed...
1. Begin by noting the "Full computer name" of this computer. If you don't
know the computer name, it can be found through Start > Control Panel >
System > Computer Name tab. (Pressing the WinKey + Pause keys will also
display the System Properties window and its Computer Name tab). In this
example we'll assume the Computer Name is ANNA.

2. Start > Control Panel > Printers and Faxes > right-click on printer and
click on Sharing.

3. Select the "Share this printer" option under the Sharing tab, and in the
"Share name" text box enter a name for the printer, e.g., "HP3310" (no
quotes) - it's always best to avoid spaces in the name entered. Make a note
of the printer name and click OK.


On the computer that wishes to access the printer...
1. Start > Control Panel > Printers and Faxes > Add Printer > "Add Printer
Wizard" will open. Click Next.

2. Select the option "A network printer, or a printer attached to another
computer". Click Next.

3. In the "Specify a Printer" dialog that opens select the option "Connect
to a printer on the Internet or on a home or office network:". In the "URL"
text box enter the path to the printer, e.g., \\ANNA\HP3310. Note the two
backslashes preceding the Computer Name. Click Next.

4. The "Connect to Printer" confirmation dialog box will open indicating
that a printer driver will be installed on this machine. Click "Yes" to
continue.

5. In the "Default Printer" dialog box that opens, presumably you will
select the "Yes" option for using this printer as the default printer. Click
Next.

6. The "Completing the Add Printer Wizard" window will open summarizing the
printer settings. Verify the info and click Finish.

Anna

 

[mcp6453]

Yes, the work computer normally joins a domain. However, I can normally
connect to shared printers on my home network if I use IP addresses
instead of UNC paths. (The computers are not in the same workgroup.) I
do not rely on Windows browsing for that reason.

If the problem was a trust relationship, wouldn't the new computer ask
for a user name and password? All I can get is "Network path not found."
Remember that I can ping the new computer from the old one. Both
computers are able to see the Internet through the router with no problem.

 

[mcp6453]

mcp...
Not sure whether the following will work in your specific situation, but
take a look at it...

The following assumes that the PCs on the network are communicating with
each other satisfactorily and that the PC to which the printer is connected
is powered on.

On the computer to which the printer is installed...
1. Begin by noting the "Full computer name" of this computer. If you don't
know the computer name, it can be found through Start > Control Panel >
System > Computer Name tab. (Pressing the WinKey + Pause keys will also
display the System Properties window and its Computer Name tab). In this
example we'll assume the Computer Name is ANNA.

2. Start > Control Panel > Printers and Faxes > right-click on printer and
click on Sharing.

3. Select the "Share this printer" option under the Sharing tab, and in the
"Share name" text box enter a name for the printer, e.g., "HP3310" (no
quotes) - it's always best to avoid spaces in the name entered. Make a note
of the printer name and click OK.


On the computer that wishes to access the printer...
1. Start > Control Panel > Printers and Faxes > Add Printer > "Add Printer
Wizard" will open. Click Next.

2. Select the option "A network printer, or a printer attached to another
computer". Click Next.

Anna, thanks for the excellent write-up, but the problem is deeper.
Typing Start | Run \\1092.168.0.101 gives a "Network path not found"
error. The new computer is pingable by the old one, and both computers
can see the Internet with no problem. The .101 IP address is the correct
IP address for the new computer.

It seems that one of the networking components on the new computer with
the share printer is not installed or that a service is not running. No
group policies have been set (by us). It's a Lenovo Thinkpad, if that
helps.

 

[R. McCarty]

On the Trust, yes the accessing PC would need a User/Password to
access.

On the work computer does it use Windows Firewall or a 3rd-party
security app ? It sounds to me like a dependant service isn't running
for network sharing. Have you checked the System Event log on the
work computer to see if any warnings/errors are being logged.

 

[mcp6453]

Yes the work computer has a firewall, but I disabled it for testing with
no success. The Event Log does not indicate the source of the problem.

 

[Galen Somerville]

Anna, thanks for the excellent write-up, but the problem is deeper. Typing
Start | Run \\1092.168.0.101 gives a "Network path not found" error. The
new computer is pingable by the old one, and both computers can see the
Internet with no problem. The .101 IP address is the correct IP address
for the new computer.

It seems that one of the networking components on the new computer with
the share printer is not installed or that a service is not running. No
group policies have been set (by us). It's a Lenovo Thinkpad, if that
helps.

My Dlink router has a base address of 192.168.0.1 and the computers
connected to it have addresses between 192.168.0.2 and 192.168.0.100.

I'm wondering if your Dlink base address is 192.168.0.101 and the computers
have addresses from 102 to 200?

Galen

 

[mcp6453]

My Dlink router has a base address of 192.168.0.1 and the computers
connected to it have addresses between 192.168.0.2 and 192.168.0.100.

I'm wondering if your Dlink base address is 192.168.0.101 and the computers
have addresses from 102 to 200?

Galen

Thanks, Galen. The IP addresses are correct. Static DHCP is also set to
make sure that there is no IP address conflict, which has happened on
this router before since it hands out IP addresses through DHCP.

I still cannot see the printer over Windows Networking, and I'm pretty
sure the problem is on the new laptop. Any more suggestions, anyone?