How to share a printer without a workgroup?

[Guest]

I'd like to share a printer among three computers at home. The
configuration is on my Wireless Network with a D-Link wirless hub is:
1. Desktop Windows XP Home with (parallel port ) printer attached and a
wireless PCI Card
2. One Win2000 Laptop PC with wirless PC card from my work and is a member
of my work domain
3. One Win2000 Pro Laptop PC with wirless PC card from my wife's wrk and is
a member of a different domain.

I'd like to be able to print from any machine but all the documentation I've
seen says to setup a workgroup. I can't do that as I need to leave the
laptops as members of their respective domains. Any ideas? I've hosed my
laptop networking twice already and getting on peoples nerves....

Thanks in advance,
Peter

 

[Chuck]

On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 15:51:02 -0800, "peter walsh" <peter

I'd like to share a printer among three computers at home. The
configuration is on my Wireless Network with a D-Link wirless hub is:
1. Desktop Windows XP Home with (parallel port ) printer attached and a
wireless PCI Card
2. One Win2000 Laptop PC with wirless PC card from my work and is a member
of my work domain
3. One Win2000 Pro Laptop PC with wirless PC card from my wife's wrk and is
a member of a different domain.

I'd like to be able to print from any machine but all the documentation I've
seen says to setup a workgroup. I can't do that as I need to leave the
laptops as members of their respective domains. Any ideas? I've hosed my
laptop networking twice already and getting on peoples nerves....

Thanks in advance,
Peter

Peter,

You can share the printer, attached to computer 1, with computer 1 setup as a
workgroup member. You don't have to do anything to computers # 2 or 3 WRT their
domain memberships.

Workgroup membership is not as meaningful as you would think - it just
determines what shares get displayed directly under My Computer / My Network
Places. If you look under Entire Network - Microsoft Windows Network, from
computers 2 and 3, you will see all computers in all workgroups anywhere
connected to you (which used to comeas a shock to new users of cable broadband
internet, til the cable companies wised up).

For still more convenience, you could reference the shared printer as
\\Computer1\Printer (substituting actual names as appropriate), from computers 2
and 3, without searching for it in My Network Places.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net

 

[Guest]

Chuck,

I tried this, but on Computer2, when I browse My Network Places, Microsoft
Windows Networks I see only the domain that computer is a member of. When I
search for Computer1, nothing found. If I do Start->Run->\\Computer1Name I
get an error that "The network name cannot be found". Any Ideas?

Thanks,
Peter

 

[Chuck]

Chuck,

I tried this, but on Computer2, when I browse My Network Places, Microsoft
Windows Networks I see only the domain that computer is a member of. When I
search for Computer1, nothing found. If I do Start->Run->\\Computer1Name I
get an error that "The network name cannot be found". Any Ideas?

Thanks,
Peter

Peter,

Look under Entire Network - Microsoft Windows Network on each computer.

Provide ipconfig information for each computer, so we can look for the problem,
if that doesn't help.
Start - Run - "cmd" - Type "ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt" into the command
window. Open Notepad, make sure that Format - Word Wrap is NOT checked!, open
file c:\ipconfig.txt, copy and paste entire contents into your next post.
Identify operating system (by name, version, and SP level) with each ipconfig
listing.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Guest]

The IPCONFIG for Computer1 - WinXP Home w/printer is as follows:

Windows IP Configuration
Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 3:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.99
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::20d:88ff:fea7:39af%4
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . :
3ffe:831f:4004:1950:8000:12d2:bc9b:ce1d
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::5445:5245:444f%6
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::

Tunnel adapter Automatic Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::5efe:192.168.0.99%2
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

The Ipconfig for Computer2 is as follows:

Windows 2000 IP Configuration
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.103
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Cable Disconnected


Each computer can PING the other but can't get to it on the network:
Pinging 192.168.0.103 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.0.103: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.103: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.103: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.103: bytes=32 time=14ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 192.168.0.103:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 1ms, Maximum = 14ms, Average = 5ms

Thanks,
Peter

 

[Chuck]

The IPCONFIG for Computer1 - WinXP Home w/printer is as follows:

Windows IP Configuration
Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection 3:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.99
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::20d:88ff:fea7:39af%4
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected
Tunnel adapter Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . :
3ffe:831f:4004:1950:8000:12d2:bc9b:ce1d
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::5445:5245:444f%6
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : ::

Tunnel adapter Automatic Tunneling Pseudo-Interface:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : fe80::5efe:192.168.0.99%2
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

The Ipconfig for Computer2 is as follows:

Windows 2000 IP Configuration
Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 2:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.103
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Cable Disconnected


Each computer can PING the other but can't get to it on the network:
Pinging 192.168.0.103 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.0.103: bytes=32 time=2ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.103: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.103: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.0.103: bytes=32 time=14ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 192.168.0.103:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 1ms, Maximum = 14ms, Average = 5ms

Peter,

You're running Teredo Tunneling, aka IPV6. Do you need access to IPV6
addresses?

Please start by un installing IPV6, aka Advanced Networking, from the list of
items under Local Area Connection Properties. You only need the following items
in the list:
Client for Microsoft Networks
File and Printer Sharing For Microsoft Networks
QoS Packet Scheduler (optional)
Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

If you need IPV6, you can install it later. After you get file sharing working.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Guest]

Chuck,

You really know your stuff. I disabled IPv6 and the WinXP Pro can see the
WinXP. Hopefully one last question. I add the printer using add a
networked pronter and I type in the full name \\computer name\printer name on
the WinXP Pro machine in asks me for a User Name and Password for the
"Computer Name". I have not set up any user names or passwords on the
machine - not even for when I first boot up the WinXP - it just goes stright
to the desktop without asking for a user name or password.

Wondering what to do... I don't really want a user name and password for
when I boot up the WinXP machine but do I need to set one up?

Many thanks,
-Peter

 

[Chuck]

Chuck,

You really know your stuff. I disabled IPv6 and the WinXP Pro can see the
WinXP. Hopefully one last question. I add the printer using add a
networked pronter and I type in the full name \\computer name\printer name on
the WinXP Pro machine in asks me for a User Name and Password for the
"Computer Name". I have not set up any user names or passwords on the
machine - not even for when I first boot up the WinXP - it just goes stright
to the desktop without asking for a user name or password.

Wondering what to do... I don't really want a user name and password for
when I boot up the WinXP machine but do I need to set one up?

Many thanks,
-Peter

Peter,

Glad I was able to help, and thanks for the feedback.

By removing IPV6, you got the browser working, which simply gives you the
ability to "see" other computers. Actual access to other computers (opening and
updating files) is only possible with proper authentication (who are you) and
authorisation (do I want you to be able to do this).

Authentication, done properly, gives you transparent access to shared resources,
and you should go straight to the desktop without asking for a user name or
password. But this is not magic, and you have to make sure it's setup properly,
or the computer will indeed ask you for a User Name and Password for the
"Computer Name".

On any XP Pro computer, check to see if Simple File Sharing (Control Panel -
Folder Options - View - Advanced settings) is enabled or disabled. With XP Pro,
you need to have SFS properly set on each computer.

On XP Pro with SFS disabled, check the Local Security Policies (Control Panel -
Administrative Tools). Under Local Policies - Security Options, look at
"Network access: Sharing and security model", and ensure it's set to "Classic -
local users authenticate as themselves".

On XP Pro with SFS disabled, if you set the above Local Security Policy to
"Guest only", enable the Guest account, using Start - Run - "cmd" - type "net
user guest /active:yes" in the command window. If "Classic", setup and use a
common non-Guest account on all computers. Whichever account is used, give it
an identical, non-blank password on all computers.

On XP Home, and on XP Pro with Simple File Sharing enabled, make sure that the
Guest account is enabled, on each computer. Enable Guest, with Start - Run -
"cmd", then type "net user guest /active:yes" in the command window. Ensure
that the password for Guest is blank, with Start - Run - "control
userpasswords2"; select Guest, click Reset Password, click OK without entering a
new password.

On XP Pro, if you're going to use Guest authentication, check your Local
Security Policy (Control Panel - Administrative Tools) - User Rights Assignment,
on the XP Pro computer, and look at "Deny access to this computer from the
network". Make sure Guest is not in the list. Look at "Access this computer
from the network", and make sure that Everyone is in this list.

More about file sharing, between all different versions of Windows:
<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...db-aef8-4bef-925e-7ac9be791028&DisplayLang=en>

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.

 

[Guest]

Chuck,

BINGO! Worked like a charm. You are a wizard.

The printer is connected to the WinXp Home computer and it did not have an
option to reset the guest account password in User Accounts. The account
was not "On" but have an option to turn it on. Then on the WinXP Pro machine
when it asked for user name and password I entered Guest and no password and
that was it.

I'm finally realizing the potential of my home network. Fantastic!

Many thanks,
-Peter

 

[Chuck]

Chuck,

BINGO! Worked like a charm. You are a wizard.

The printer is connected to the WinXp Home computer and it did not have an
option to reset the guest account password in User Accounts. The account
was not "On" but have an option to turn it on. Then on the WinXP Pro machine
when it asked for user name and password I entered Guest and no password and
that was it.

I'm finally realizing the potential of my home network. Fantastic!

Many thanks,
-Peter

Peter,

It's folks like you who provide the reward for labouring here. Now that you
have learned, you can also teach others.

Thanks for the details, and encouragement.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck sonic net.