network xp/win98 can't print to shared printers

[Maryann]

hi, can someone help me - please. two home computers are
networked and sharing internet connection. Network
finally seems to be running ok - can browse internet from
shared connection, see shared folders etc., and each
others computers etc. though network neighbourhood - but
can't use each others printers. Message on each computer
is that other's printer can't be found on network. I've
followed instructions, several times in fact. "Help" said
to check permissions, by holding down CNTRL & right-
clicking printer for security tab, but no matter how much
I try the tab won't come up. I'm at my wit's end, is
there someone out there know's the answer?????

 

[Bob Willard]

hi, can someone help me - please. two home computers are
networked and sharing internet connection. Network
finally seems to be running ok - can browse internet from
shared connection, see shared folders etc., and each
others computers etc. though network neighbourhood - but
can't use each others printers. Message on each computer
is that other's printer can't be found on network. I've
followed instructions, several times in fact. "Help" said
to check permissions, by holding down CNTRL & right-
clicking printer for security tab, but no matter how much
I try the tab won't come up. I'm at my wit's end, is
there someone out there know's the answer?????

You need to mark the printer to be shared; obvious, but sometimes
overlooked. And, you need to give each printer a short, simple
ShareName, like BEAUTY or BEAST. Then, click on the AddPrinter
icon (details depend on the OS), choose Network Printer, and enter
the name of the other-PC's printer as \\PCname\ShareName.

That usually will suffice, but nothing about printers is perfect.
Some printers cannot be easily shared between different OSs, due
to limitations in the drivers supplied by the printer vendors.

 

[Maryann]

Hi Bob
Thanks for taking the time to help me with my problem. I
had taken those steps several times, to no avail.
However, each time just as it started to add the printer
icon to the printer list, a message would state that the
printer wasn't connected. Later on after posting my
query, the 98 computer stopped being able to browse and
check emails (message - TCP/IP error), also lost network
icons completely. Luckily I had written down the network
settings and upon checking found several changes to IP
address etc. After copying them back in and rebooting
today, the problem is fixed.
Touch wood!
Thanks again
Maryann