adding an elusive printer to a wireless home network

[Guest]

The network has two wireless laptops with a Linksys router connected by
ethernet cable to a Dell 1700n laser printer. One laptop runs XP Pro, the
other XP Home. The system ran well until recently. Recent changes are that
I added Spysweeper to both computers and the XP Home machine was rebuilt.

Now, XP Pro works fine, can see the other machine's files and print. The XP
Home machine can see the other machine's files but not the printer. I can
only print using Pro's shared printer, but if Pro is asleep, can't print. I
can ping the IP address of the the printer. When I try to Add a Printer, I
can't browse to it and I can't direct the network to the IP address or the
port address that PRO uses.

I have bounced the system several times. I have run the Home Network Wizard
8 times. One new problem is that when I run the Wizard, it forces a Network
Bridge with disrupts connectivity to the access point until I delete it.
Please help. This question was removed from the post earlier.

 

[C.Joseph Drayton]

The network has two wireless laptops with a Linksys router connected by
ethernet cable to a Dell 1700n laser printer. One laptop runs XP Pro, the
other XP Home. The system ran well until recently. Recent changes are that
I added Spysweeper to both computers and the XP Home machine was rebuilt.

Now, XP Pro works fine, can see the other machine's files and print. The XP
Home machine can see the other machine's files but not the printer. I can
only print using Pro's shared printer, but if Pro is asleep, can't print. I
can ping the IP address of the the printer. When I try to Add a Printer, I
can't browse to it and I can't direct the network to the IP address or the
port address that PRO uses.

I have bounced the system several times. I have run the Home Network Wizard
8 times. One new problem is that when I run the Wizard, it forces a Network
Bridge with disrupts connectivity to the access point until I delete it.
Please help. This question was removed from the post earlier.

Hi Spruce Street,

There is some key information that is needed to answer your question.

1) What kind of printer is it
2) Is the printer network ready or is it using an appliance
to be placed on the network.
3) What type of router or switch is the Printer connect to.
4) Is the address of the printer static

I use a Brother HL-2070n laser printer on my network and have no
problems. It is network ready, has a static IP and is connected
directly to my router. I have my ClearWire modem feeding into a
switch, then I have the VoIP and router coming off the switch. The
router which does the DHCP serving then has the printer and
computers (wired and wireless) on it.

Brother has a very nice application that allows you to control the
network printers on it.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the response. I rephrased the question in a new post since this
post and someone pointed out to me that I was on the wrong track. I was
trying to add the network printer as if it was a plug and play. He advised
me to add the drivers from the CD, which I did and the computer went out on
the network and found the printer without difficulty. It was a DUH! moment
for me. Thanks for taking interest.