Can not get my laptop to connect to my LAN

[Guest]

I am trying to add a laptop with XP pro OS to a LAN which runs on Windows
2000. This LAN is not networked to the internet. I plan to use this laptop as
a print server for a special thermal res film setter. The software that runs
the printer (Film setter) is very unique. Problem is not being able to
connect to the network. I have added the printer to the laptop as well as the
network server, but cannot see it on the network or connect to it. I can
print directly from the laptop to the printer but cannot print from another
workstation on the network thru the network server, switch and back to the
laptop. I have a crossover cable connected from the laptop ethernet card to
the videonet card on the printer, and a straight thru cable from the network
card on laptop to the port on the switch. I don't seem to be on the network
even though it is physically connected and was added to the workstations and
server. I have checked IP addresses and they seem to be correct. Any ideas
out there? I have tried to

 

[Phillip Windell]

1. Get rid of the duel nic connections on the laptop.
2. Plug everything into the hub/switch with St-Thur cables,...including the
Printer
3. Make sure all machines (including the printer, which is also a "machine")
run compatible addresses.
4. Turn the Windows Firewall off on everything. Turn it back on once
everything works right.
5. Make sure that the Workgroup Name matches on all the machines. The
printer probably has none, but in the unlikely case that it does, make it
match too.
6. Make sure "Client for Microsoft Networking" is enabled on all machine.
The printer won't likely have that and won't matter.
7. Make sure File & Print Sharing is enabled at least on the Laptop so that
you can "share" the printer.
8. If user accounts matter, then all machines have to have matching user
accounts/passwords on them,...this is because it is a Workgroup model which
does not have any central authority.

That is the best I can suggest without having any personal experience with
the exact devices you are dealing with. If you get careless or sloppy and
leave out a step things probably won't work.