unable to share printer

[Missy]

Hi,

I am running Windows XP on a desktop and on a laptop. I have a router that
connects the laptop to the internet. I am trying to share my printer with
the laptop and have not been able to do it. I have enable file and printer
sharing on the desktop, which is connected to my printer via usb cable.
What am I doing wrong?

Thanks,

Missy

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

Does the desktop also connect to the router?

Are both PCs in the same Workgroup?

 

[Missy]

Let me clarify....the router is hard-wired to my desktop. The laptop
connects wirelessly.

Workgroup? Sorry, I am new to this.....

Missy

 

[Missy]

OK....I think I have the workgroup figured out. When I try to share my
printer, it tells me the "Printer settings could not be saved. Operation
could not be completed." What do I need to do here?

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

See Ron Pacciano's article which will walk you through the sequence as
painlessly as possible.
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/qa/qa20030619.shtml

 

[Missy]

I tried this but am getting the "Printer settings could not be saved" error.
It won't let me share the printer first before configuring the network.

What do I need to do to fix this?

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

You are logged on as an Administrator?

 

[Missy]

Yes.....

Anyone heard of not being able to share a Canon MultiPass F30? It will not
allow me to share it....I keep getting that error!

 

[Earl F. Parrish]

I tried this but am getting the "Printer settings could not be saved"
error. It won't let me share the printer first before configuring the
network.

What do I need to do to fix this?

You have to configure the network before you configure sharing. If there is
no network, there is no need for sharing.

Run the Home Office Network Setup Wizard from each computer and enable
printer and file sharing on each. The Windows XP firewall disable sharing
even if you set it up manually.

 

[Missy]

Earl,

Thanks for the information. I did do the wizard, however, I checked with
Canon and they say they don't support printer sharing for my MultiPass F30,
but would not say it couldn't be done. Any ideas?

Missy

 

[Guest]

Earl,

Thanks for the information. I did do the wizard, however, I checked with
Canon and they say they don't support printer sharing for my MultiPass F30,
but would not say it couldn't be done. Any ideas?

Missy

 

[Guest]

does a printer have to be a "network" printer, with network drivers to be
able to be shared on Windows XP shared printer option? I have an Epson
Stylus CX4800 and cannot get it to be shared and I have tried everything
Missy has tried. Do I have to go out and buy a network printer?

Earl,

Thanks for the information. I did do the wizard, however, I checked with
Canon and they say they don't support printer sharing for my MultiPass F30,
but would not say it couldn't be done. Any ideas?

Missy

 

[Lem]

does a printer have to be a "network" printer, with network drivers to be
able to be shared on Windows XP shared printer option? I have an Epson
Stylus CX4800 and cannot get it to be shared and I have tried everything
Missy has tried. Do I have to go out and buy a network printer?

Earl,

Thanks for the information. I did do the wizard, however, I checked with
Canon and they say they don't support printer sharing for my MultiPass F30,
but would not say it couldn't be done. Any ideas?

Missy

Kath -- No, you don't have to have a "network" printer -- but it depends
on how you connect things together. You do have to have a network,
however, and you have to be able to share files between computers on the
network.

The simplest case is where you have a printer physically connected to
one of the computers on the network. In this situation, the printer is
shared as a resource of that computer in the same way one of the files
on that computer would be shared. The catch is that the computer must
be on in order for any other computer on the network to access the printer.

A so-called "network printer" usually refers to a printer that can be
connected to the network on its own, without being connected to a
computer. The advantage of this is that the printer is always available
(at least as long as the printer itself is powered on).

The link Cari posted should help:
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/qa/qa20030619.shtml

 

[Guest]

Thanks, that is good to know that I don't have to buy another printer. I
have my network set up on my main computer with a wireless router and can get
online with my laptop and my kids desktop. I can share files, I see them on
My Network Places, but I cannot get the printer to work wirelessly from my
laptop and it does not apprear on My Network Places. I'm not sure I have the
right port. Do I have to put in an IP address for the printer port? The
printer shows up as a network printer under my Printers and Faxes. I've done
the network set up and the sharing printer set up, I've even deleted
everything and started over but can't get the printer to work. I've gotten
as far as printing a document and watching it go to the printer but then it
fails to print. What am I doing wrong? Any help would be greately
appreciated. Thank you, kath

 

[Earl F. Parrish]

Thanks, that is good to know that I don't have to buy another printer. I
have my network set up on my main computer with a wireless router and can
get
online with my laptop and my kids desktop. I can share files, I see them
on
My Network Places, but I cannot get the printer to work wirelessly from my
laptop and it does not apprear on My Network Places. I'm not sure I have
the
right port. Do I have to put in an IP address for the printer port? The
printer shows up as a network printer under my Printers and Faxes. I've
done
the network set up and the sharing printer set up, I've even deleted
everything and started over but can't get the printer to work. I've
gotten
as far as printing a document and watching it go to the printer but then
it
fails to print. What am I doing wrong? Any help would be greately
appreciated. Thank you, kath

The drivers for the printer you want to use must be installed on each PC
from which you want to send printing commands. They must be appropriate for
the operating system of that PC. Some newer printers might not have drivers
for older operating systems. Does a test print work? Go into your print
queue to see if there is an earlier print job which is stalling the others.

Check out the online Users Guide at
http://files.support.epson.com/htmldocs/cx42__/cx42__ug/index.htm

Earl

 

[Lem]

Thanks, that is good to know that I don't have to buy another printer. I
have my network set up on my main computer with a wireless router and can get
online with my laptop and my kids desktop. I can share files, I see them on
My Network Places, but I cannot get the printer to work wirelessly from my
laptop and it does not apprear on My Network Places. I'm not sure I have the
right port. Do I have to put in an IP address for the printer port? The
printer shows up as a network printer under my Printers and Faxes. I've done
the network set up and the sharing printer set up, I've even deleted
everything and started over but can't get the printer to work. I've gotten
as far as printing a document and watching it go to the printer but then it
fails to print. What am I doing wrong? Any help would be greately
appreciated. Thank you, kath

Try the directions at MVP Cari's site:
http://www.coribright.com/windows/Article Five.htm
(if some of your networked computers are not running WinXP, see
http://www.coribright.com/windows/Article Six.htm instead)

Particularly note the restriction on the share name of the printer.

Although I haven't personally run into this problem, also see MVP Bruce
Sanderson's article on adding a network printer "available for all
users" http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/NetPrinterAllUsers.htm (I think
the problem Bruce refers to occurs when you have 2 or more users on the
same computer, e.g., if Alice and Bob have separate login profiles on
your "kids computer." Thus, if you are logged in as Alice and use the
Add Printer wizard to add a network printer that's connected to your
main computer, only Alice will be able to use it, not Bob -- unless you
follow Bruce's directions).

 

[kjohnson04]

I've got a similar problem.

I have three computers. Two are laptops, one a desktop. The desktop
connects to the wireless router by cable and the two laptops connect
wirelessly.

Equipment:
Netgear WGR614 v6 router (Netopia from Earthlink DSL Modem)
Netgear PCMCIA card on Toshiba Satellite 1905-s277 [Windows XP Media
Center Edition 2005]
Intel 2200 BG Wireless on Toshiba Qosmio G15-AV601[Windows XP Home]
Ethernet (ISA) on ancient Packard Bell Platinum 2240 [Windows ME]
Epson CX4800 AIO printer (connected to Qosmio via USB2)

Software:
I'm using Norton Internet Security 2006 on 2 machines. The third
machine has no firewall or AV (working on that).

Here's what works:
- The internet works on all machines.
- All three machines can see each other on the network.
- All machines can share files.

Here's what doesn't work:
I cannot get CX4800 to install, despite being able to be seen on the
Satellite. The network printer install freezes, wait 5 minutes and
spits out "Cannot complete operation."
The Packard Bell can see the Qosmio (and shared files), but not the
printer.

What Am I doing wrong? I have the CX4800 connected to the Qosmio
because it is the only machine with built-in High-Speed USB2.0 ports.
The other two only have USB1.1 ports. The online user manual claims
that this printer can network. What's preventing it from doing it?