Just Enable File and Printer Sharing

[Guest]

Hi All,

I have a fresh image of WinXP Home SP2 (say Machine A ). As you all know, by
default we have an exception for "File and Printer Sharing".
Hence, "Add Printer" from another Machine (B) which is on the same network
will not work.
I want to achieve this without using the "Network setup Wizard".
These are the few options which i tried on Machine A.
Executed a sample application to share the printer ( using SetPrinter( ) API
).
Manually enabled the "File and Printer Sharing" exception in the windows
firewall settings,which inturn will enable the ICMP request,TCP and UDP Ports.
Now tried "Add Printer" from B and the credentials dialog popped up asking
for password (with userName = Guest ).Clicked on ok. A Message "Windows
cannot connect to Printer. Operation not completed" popped up.
Now, If i use the Network Wizard and select "Just Enable File and Printer
Sharing" and try an "Add Printer" from Machine B.It doesnt ask for the
credentials and the Printer is added successfully.
can anyone tell me what is the Network Setup Wizard doing other than
Enabling the "File and Printer Sharing" exception.
I tried comparing the registry but couldnt gather much info.
I want to Add Printer from "B" without running the Network Wizard in "A". Is
this Possible ? what are the other settings i need to look into ?

Thanks in advance

 

[Guest]

Hi,

I just wanted to make another point here.

When i manually eanble the "File and Printer Sharing exception" and then try
an Add Printer from another machine , the credentials dialog pops up with
username = guest.

But when i enable "File and Printer Sharing exception" using the Network
Wizard and then do an Add Printer the credentials dialog doesn't show up.

Is this an area of concern ?

If yes, how do i solve this ?

 

[Chuck]

Hi All,

I have a fresh image of WinXP Home SP2 (say Machine A ). As you all know, by
default we have an exception for "File and Printer Sharing".
Hence, "Add Printer" from another Machine (B) which is on the same network
will not work.
I want to achieve this without using the "Network setup Wizard".
These are the few options which i tried on Machine A.
Executed a sample application to share the printer ( using SetPrinter( ) API
).
Manually enabled the "File and Printer Sharing" exception in the windows
firewall settings,which inturn will enable the ICMP request,TCP and UDP Ports.
Now tried "Add Printer" from B and the credentials dialog popped up asking
for password (with userName = Guest ).Clicked on ok. A Message "Windows
cannot connect to Printer. Operation not completed" popped up.
Now, If i use the Network Wizard and select "Just Enable File and Printer
Sharing" and try an "Add Printer" from Machine B.It doesnt ask for the
credentials and the Printer is added successfully.
can anyone tell me what is the Network Setup Wizard doing other than
Enabling the "File and Printer Sharing" exception.
I tried comparing the registry but couldnt gather much info.
I want to Add Printer from "B" without running the Network Wizard in "A". Is
this Possible ? what are the other settings i need to look into ?

Thanks in advance

When you run the Network Setup Wizard for the first time, on a typical NAT
router client, it does all of the following as necessary:
# Set the computer name, computer description, and workgroup name that you
specify.
# Install these network components if they're not already present:
* Client for Microsoft Networks.
* File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks.
* TCP/IP.
# Share any printers connected to the computer.
# Create the "Shared Documents" folder, if it doesn't exist.
# Share the "Shared Documents" folder.
# Configure the local area network connection, to obtain an IP address
automatically.
You run the Network Setup wizard once on any computer.

When you want to add shared resources (like a printer, or a shared folder,
that's on another computer), you run the Add Printer wizard, or the Add Shared
Folder wizard. These are separate processes from the Network Setup wizard.