Printer sharing between ME and XP

[Susan]

Hi,
I'm sure this has been asked other times but I've looked around on the
Microsoft site and didn't find what I was looking for.
I did find an article on the microsoft site but that is talking about Remote
Desktop and I'm not sure this is what I want.

I have a desktop and laptop computer that use a DSL connection. The laptop
is connected through a wireless connection and I'd like to set up printer
sharing. The printer I have is sort of old, an HP deskjet 712c. I've run
the Home Networking Wizard with Windows ME and have my printer as being
shared. I have also run the Network Setup Wizard on XP but still nothing
has happened. I have My Network Places on my desktop but when I open the
folder there is no 'entire network' setting or anything. Only an error
script message comes up "Line: 206, Char: 21, Error: Unspecified error.,
Code: 0,
url: file://C:\\WINDOWS\\Web\nethood.htt

I was also looking at the previous posts and I tried using the same method
mentioned for a Windows2000 and XP computer but I don't even have a "Network
Places"on my Start button so I'm truly lost here.

Thank you,
Susan

 

[Mike Hyndman]

Susan,

See
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/windowsxpnetworking/a/automaticwifixp.htm

HTH
MH

 

[Susan]

This really doesn't help. I can get an internet connection through both
computers but I can't get the printer to run from my laptop as it does from
my desktop.


Susan

 

[Guest]

I'd start with this....

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q300423/

 

[Susan]

Thank you so much! I've been bothered with this problem for some time and
didn't know how to repair it. The solution works great. Sadly, I still
can't get my printer to share between my laptop and Desktop.

Thank you,
Susan

 

[Mike Hyndman]

Thank you so much! I've been bothered with this problem for some time and
didn't know how to repair it. The solution works great. Sadly, I still
can't get my printer to share between my laptop and Desktop.

Is your printer set share? Go to Start>Printers and Faxes>click on your
printer icon and from the list on the left of the window, click on share
this printer.
At the dialogue box, click on "share this printer" you can keep the
suggested name.

HtH
MH

 

[Susan]

Yes I do have it set to share on the desktop.

Would I need to download the printer driver for the laptop also? I only
have it on the desktop now.

 

[Mike Hyndman]

Yes I do have it set to share on the desktop.

Would I need to download the printer driver for the laptop also? I only
have it on the desktop now.

Susan,

Go to printers and faxes>Add a printer (list on LHS) when wizard starts
click next, on the local and network printer page click on "a network
printer etc.," on the next page select "Browse for a printer" This should
then give you a list of all the installed printers on your network. If your
network is setup correctly you will see the printer connected to you
desktop. As this is as you say, an old printer you could very well be asked
for a driver disc before you are able to connect. Just put your disc in and
follow the prompts to finish the installation.

HTH
MH

 

[Susan]

I did what you said, and it shows the other computer but it doesn't list any
printer. The laptop has an internal printer which isn't connected (I'm not
using it) and that is the only one showing up. Could there be a problem
with the desktop?

Susan

 

[Mike Hyndman]

I did what you said, and it shows the other computer but it doesn't list
any printer. The laptop has an internal printer which isn't connected (I'm
not using it) and that is the only one showing up. Could there be a
problem with the desktop?

Susan,

If it shows the desktop PC "sans" printer, it would suggest that this
printer is not set to "share printer" and therefore invisible to the laptop.
Go to Start>right click on My Network places and select Properties. Right
click on your net connection icon and select Properties. In the Network
connections dialogue box, is there a ticked entry for "File and Printer
sharing for MS Networks"? If this service is missing you will have to
install it. In the same dialogue box, click on install, Service, select the
missing service and click on add.
I've never heard of a laptop with an internal printer, what make is it and
what size paper does it use?

HTH
Mike H

 

[Susan]

Idiot me! I forgot I had my firewall going for both the laptop and desktop
and that was stopping me from sharing the printer. I just happened to look
at the toolbar tonight and thought, 'what the heck I'll give it a try.'
Once I turned off the firewall I could print from my laptop! Fantastic!
Thank you so much for all your help. I was pulling my hair out for a while
there.

The internal printer I think is part of the free printer that came with my
laptop. It's a Dell Inspiron 6000 and a printer came free when I ordered
it. Like I said, I don't want to use it as I already have a printer that
works just fine.

I was wondering though that with the firewall in place (I use ZoneAlarm), do
I have to disable the firewall on both computers to get the printer to work
from the laptop or is there a way I can get around this? I am the only user
for both laptop and desktop so I don't have seperate user accounts set up.
Would it be better to set up a different account just so I can use the
printer on the network?

Sorry to add more questions even after the printer-sharing goal has been
reached.

Thank you so much once again
Susan

 

[Mike Hyndman]

Idiot me! I forgot I had my firewall going for both the laptop and
desktop and that was stopping me from sharing the printer. I just
happened to look at the toolbar tonight and thought, 'what the heck I'll
give it a try.' Once I turned off the firewall I could print from my
laptop! Fantastic! Thank you so much for all your help. I was pulling my
hair out for a while there.

Naughty, naughty.;-)

The internal printer I think is part of the free printer that came with my
laptop. It's a Dell Inspiron 6000 and a printer came free when I ordered
it. Like I said, I don't want to use it as I already have a printer that
works just fine.

You made it sound like the printer was built into the laptop. ;-) Dell
printers are very expensive to run as the only source of consumables is
.......Dell.

I was wondering though that with the firewall in place (I use ZoneAlarm),
do I have to disable the firewall on both computers to get the printer to
work from the laptop or is there a way I can get around this? I am the
only user for both laptop and desktop so I don't have seperate user
accounts set up. Would it be better to set up a different account just so
I can use the printer on the network?

To save me a lot of typing, have a look at the following link
http://tinyurl.com/debvq Zone Alarm, Trusted Sites and printer sharing.

Sorry to add more questions even after the printer-sharing goal has been
reached.

Thank you so much once again

Glad to "help" ;-)

Regards


Mike H

 

[Susan]

It all works! I can't thank you enough for all your help with this.
Sorry about the confusion with the 'internal' printer. That's the way it's
described in the Printer folder so I didn't think to write that it's really
not built into the laptop just the driver/program is. I'm sure it's a nice
printer but as you mentioned the only printer ink you can use for it would
have to be from Dell.

Anyway, thank you once again for all the help.
Susan

 

[Mike Hyndman]

It all works! I can't thank you enough for all your help with this.
Sorry about the confusion with the 'internal' printer. That's the way
it's described in the Printer folder so I didn't think to write that it's
really not built into the laptop just the driver/program is. I'm sure
it's a nice printer but as you mentioned the only printer ink you can use
for it would have to be from Dell.

Anyway, thank you once again for all the help.

Susan,

Many thanks for the update and I wish you many happy hours of networked
printing

Regards,

Mike H