share printer help needed

[dick]

old computer newbie has desktop with xp hardwire connected and new laptop
with vista wireless connected. printed is hardwire connected to old
computer.

so far I can only create a network showing new laptop and the new router
installed between the old external modem and old computer.

I really want to be able to use old printer from my new laptop. Please help
an old guy.
Thanks, Richard

 

[Malke]

old computer newbie has desktop with xp hardwire connected and new laptop
with vista wireless connected. printed is hardwire connected to old
computer.

so far I can only create a network showing new laptop and the new router
installed between the old external modem and old computer.

I really want to be able to use old printer from my new laptop. Please

You need to set up file/printer sharing between the two computers first.
Then share out the printer and install Vista drivers on the Vista laptop.

Here are general network troubleshooting steps. Not everything may be
applicable to your situation, so just take the bits that are. It may look
daunting, but if you follow the steps at the links and suggestions below
systematically and calmly, you will have no difficulty in setting up your
sharing.

Excellent, thorough, yet easy to understand article about File/Printer
Sharing in Vista. Includes details about sharing printers as well as files
and folders:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx

For XP, start by running the Network Setup Wizard on all machines (see
caveat in Item A below).

Problems sharing files between computers on a network are generally caused
by 1) a misconfigured firewall or overlooked firewall (including a stateful
firewall in a VPN); or 2) inadvertently running two firewalls such as the
built-in Windows Firewall and a third-party firewall; and/or 3) not having
identical user accounts and passwords on all Workgroup machines; 4) trying
to create shares where the operating system does not permit it.

A. Configure firewalls on all machines to allow the Local Area Network (LAN)
traffic as trusted. With Windows Firewall, this means allowing File/Printer
Sharing on the Exceptions tab. Normally running the Network Setup Wizard on
XP will take care of this for those machines.The only "gotcha" is that this
will turn on the XPSP2 Windows Firewall. If you aren't running a
third-party firewall or have an antivirus/security program with its own
firewall component, then you're fine. With third-party firewalls, I
usually configure the LAN allowance with an IP range. Ex. would be
192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you would substitute your correct
subnet. Refer to any third party security program's Help or user forums for
how to properly configure its firewall. Do not run more than one firewall.
DO NOT TURN OFF FIREWALLS; CONFIGURE THEM CORRECTLY.

B. For ease of organization, put all computers in the same Workgroup. This
is done from the System applet in Control Panel, Computer Name tab.

C. Create matching user accounts and passwords on all machines. You do not
need to be logged into the same account on all machines and the passwords
assigned to each user account can be different; the accounts/passwords just
need to exist and match on all machines. DO NOT NEGLECT TO CREATE
PASSWORDS, EVEN IF ONLY SIMPLE ONES. If you wish a machine to boot directly
to the Desktop (into one particular user's account) for convenience, you
can do this:

XP - Configure Windows to Automatically Login (MVP Ramesh) -
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Autologon.htm

Vista - Start Orb>Search box>type: netplwiz [enter]
Click on Continue (or supply an administrator's password) when prompted by
UAC

Uncheck the option "Users must enter a user name and password to use this
computer". Select a user account to automatically log on by clicking on the
desired account to highlight it and then hit OK. Enter the correct password
for that user account (if there is one) when prompted. Leave it blank if
there is no password (null).

D. If one or more of the computers is XP Pro or Media Center, turn off
Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab).

E. Create shares as desired. XP Home does not permit sharing of users' home
directories or Program Files, but you can share folders inside those
directories. A better choice is to simply use the Shared Documents folder.
See the first link above for details about Vista sharing.

F. After you have file sharing working (and have tested this by exchanging a
file between all machines), if you want to share a printer connected
locally to one of your computers, share it out from that machine. Then go
to the printer mftr.'s website and download the latest drivers for the
correct operating system(s). Install them on the target machine(s). The
printer should be seen during the installation routine. If it is not,
install the drivers and then use the Add Printer Wizard. In some instances,
certain printers need to be installed as Local printers but that is outside
of this response.

Malke

 

[dick]

Malke,
Okay, printed out and studied all the references. But still have private
network on new wireless laptop with vista and unable to get old desktop with
xp connected with the laptop. The xp shows a LAN connection.

xp network setup wizard sez : create a 3-1/2 floppy(A disk or use a Win
xp cd and use on all machines. But Laptop doesn't handle disks and I don't
have a win xp cd...

A little more help would be appreciated. Thanks, Dick

old computer newbie has desktop with xp hardwire connected and new laptop
with vista wireless connected. printed is hardwire connected to old
computer.

so far I can only create a network showing new laptop and the new router
installed between the old external modem and old computer.

I really want to be able to use old printer from my new laptop. Please

You need to set up file/printer sharing between the two computers first.
Then share out the printer and install Vista drivers on the Vista laptop.

Here are general network troubleshooting steps. Not everything may be
applicable to your situation, so just take the bits that are. It may look
daunting, but if you follow the steps at the links and suggestions below
systematically and calmly, you will have no difficulty in setting up your
sharing.

Excellent, thorough, yet easy to understand article about File/Printer
Sharing in Vista. Includes details about sharing printers as well as files
and folders:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx

For XP, start by running the Network Setup Wizard on all machines (see
caveat in Item A below).

Problems sharing files between computers on a network are generally caused
by 1) a misconfigured firewall or overlooked firewall (including a
stateful
firewall in a VPN); or 2) inadvertently running two firewalls such as the
built-in Windows Firewall and a third-party firewall; and/or 3) not having
identical user accounts and passwords on all Workgroup machines; 4) trying
to create shares where the operating system does not permit it.

A. Configure firewalls on all machines to allow the Local Area Network
(LAN)
traffic as trusted. With Windows Firewall, this means allowing
File/Printer
Sharing on the Exceptions tab. Normally running the Network Setup Wizard
on
XP will take care of this for those machines.The only "gotcha" is that
this
will turn on the XPSP2 Windows Firewall. If you aren't running a
third-party firewall or have an antivirus/security program with its own
firewall component, then you're fine. With third-party firewalls, I
usually configure the LAN allowance with an IP range. Ex. would be
192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you would substitute your correct
subnet. Refer to any third party security program's Help or user forums
for
how to properly configure its firewall. Do not run more than one firewall.
DO NOT TURN OFF FIREWALLS; CONFIGURE THEM CORRECTLY.

B. For ease of organization, put all computers in the same Workgroup. This
is done from the System applet in Control Panel, Computer Name tab.

C. Create matching user accounts and passwords on all machines. You do not
need to be logged into the same account on all machines and the passwords
assigned to each user account can be different; the accounts/passwords
just
need to exist and match on all machines. DO NOT NEGLECT TO CREATE
PASSWORDS, EVEN IF ONLY SIMPLE ONES. If you wish a machine to boot
directly
to the Desktop (into one particular user's account) for convenience, you
can do this:

XP - Configure Windows to Automatically Login (MVP Ramesh) -
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Autologon.htm

Vista - Start Orb>Search box>type: netplwiz [enter]
Click on Continue (or supply an administrator's password) when prompted by
UAC

Uncheck the option "Users must enter a user name and password to use this
computer". Select a user account to automatically log on by clicking on
the
desired account to highlight it and then hit OK. Enter the correct
password
for that user account (if there is one) when prompted. Leave it blank if
there is no password (null).

D. If one or more of the computers is XP Pro or Media Center, turn off
Simple File Sharing (Folder Options>View tab).

E. Create shares as desired. XP Home does not permit sharing of users'
home
directories or Program Files, but you can share folders inside those
directories. A better choice is to simply use the Shared Documents folder.
See the first link above for details about Vista sharing.

F. After you have file sharing working (and have tested this by exchanging
a
file between all machines), if you want to share a printer connected
locally to one of your computers, share it out from that machine. Then go
to the printer mftr.'s website and download the latest drivers for the
correct operating system(s). Install them on the target machine(s). The
printer should be seen during the installation routine. If it is not,
install the drivers and then use the Add Printer Wizard. In some
instances,
certain printers need to be installed as Local printers but that is
outside
of this response.

Malke

 

[Malke]

Malke,
Okay, printed out and studied all the references. But still have private
network on new wireless laptop with vista and unable to get old desktop
with xp connected with the laptop. The xp shows a LAN connection.

xp network setup wizard sez : create a 3-1/2 floppy(A disk or use a Win
xp cd and use on all machines. But Laptop doesn't handle disks and I
don't have a win xp cd...

You don't need to use the Network Setup Wizard on XP. Just go to Control
Panel>Windows Firewall and put a checkmark in File/Printer Sharing. This
assumes that you don't have a third-party firewall installed. Since you
didn't tell me anything about what you have installed, I can't be more
specific.

Very simply:

1. Allow LAN traffic either by checking File/Printer sharing in the Windows
Firewall or by configuring your third-party firewalls.

2. Create matching user accounts/passwords on both machines. If the XP box
is Pro or MCE, disable Simple File Sharing.

3. Right-click on directories you want to share and share them out. It is
helpful to also add "Everyone" and give full access in the advanced
sharing/security section if security isn't an issue.

Malke

 

[dick]

Malke,
1.windows firewall has file/printer sharing checked. Norton Internet
security firewall is off.
2.confusing for me here.
xp home edition version 2002 sp 3 has 2 user profiles: Dick\Administrator
and Dick\Owner but 2 user accounts are: Owner Computer Administrator but
Guest is off.

Meanwhile vista has 2 accounts: Vista Administrator and guest is off. What
shud I type or change exactly and how spell it??
3.where are directories ??

 

[Malke]

Malke,
1.windows firewall has file/printer sharing checked. Norton Internet
security firewall is off.
2.confusing for me here.
xp home edition version 2002 sp 3 has 2 user profiles: Dick\Administrator
and Dick\Owner but 2 user accounts are: Owner Computer Administrator but
Guest is off.

Meanwhile vista has 2 accounts: Vista Administrator and guest is off.
What shud I type or change exactly and how spell it??
3.where are directories ?

It is common for users to rename the generic user account they started out
with (i.e., rename Computer Administrator to Dick) instead of creating a
new user account as they should.

In Vista - the true names of your user accounts are in C:\Users so look
there.

In XP - the true names of your user accounts are in C:\Documents and
Settings so look there.

Add the XP users to the Vista machine and the Vista user to the XP machine.

You should not disable your firewall; you should configure it correctly to
allow LAN traffic. I can't help you with Norton because I don't support
their products. If you can't figure out how to set it correctly, look in
the program's Help.

Don't understand your last question.

Malke

 

[dick]

I changed both computers "Administrator" to "Dick". Do I still need to add
xp and vista users to the other?? If so, exactly what do I type that makes
it different from the two "Dicks"??

Thanks for your patience, Dick

 

[Malke]

I changed both computers "Administrator" to "Dick". Do I still need to add
xp and vista users to the other?? If so, exactly what do I type that makes
it different from the two "Dicks"??

Either you are not understanding me or I'm not understanding you, or a
combination of both.

I asked you to type what users you see in C:\Users on Vista and C:\Documents
and Settings on XP. You didn't do this.

What do you mean you "changed both computers [sic] Administrator to Dick"?
How? By just renaming the accounts in Control Panel>User Accounts? I
already told you simply renaming an account doesn't work.

I'm truly not saying this to hurt your feelings but I think from a
practical, more efficient standpoint you would really be better served to
have a competent local computer tech come on-site and set you up (not from
a BigComputerStore/GeekSquad type of place). Setting up file/printer
sharing between two computers takes approximately 5 minutes (not counting
installing printer drivers) and someone who can have hands-on the machine
is going to get you going very quickly. When you watch him/her, the
concepts will become immediately apparent.

I'm sorry that I haven't been able to help you.

Malke

 

[dick]

Not too sensitive at 69 years <G>. But did follow your instructions as I
understood true names and found xp with Administrator, All Users, Default
User and Owner while Vista had Public and Vista choices.. So I decided to
do <It is common for users to rename the generic user account they started
out
with (i.e., rename Computer Administrator to Dick) instead of creating a
new user account as they should.> I guess I thought this was an option not
realizing you told me renaming an account didn't work in some previous
email.

Anyway, being retired with only time and pride available, the $100+ to come
out seems expensive.

I guess my last querry:
Any feelings on letting it be done remotely (considerably cheaper
supposedly)??

Thanks, Dick

I changed both computers "Administrator" to "Dick". Do I still need to
add
xp and vista users to the other?? If so, exactly what do I type that
makes
it different from the two "Dicks"??

Either you are not understanding me or I'm not understanding you, or a
combination of both.

I asked you to type what users you see in C:\Users on Vista and
C:\Documents
and Settings on XP. You didn't do this.

What do you mean you "changed both computers [sic] Administrator to Dick"?
How? By just renaming the accounts in Control Panel>User Accounts? I
already told you simply renaming an account doesn't work.

I'm truly not saying this to hurt your feelings but I think from a
practical, more efficient standpoint you would really be better served to
have a competent local computer tech come on-site and set you up (not from
a BigComputerStore/GeekSquad type of place). Setting up file/printer
sharing between two computers takes approximately 5 minutes (not counting
installing printer drivers) and someone who can have hands-on the machine
is going to get you going very quickly. When you watch him/her, the
concepts will become immediately apparent.

I'm sorry that I haven't been able to help you.

Malke

 

[Malke]

Not too sensitive at 69 years <G>. But did follow your instructions as I
understood true names and found xp with Administrator, All Users, Default
User and Owner while Vista had Public and Vista choices.. So I decided to
do <It is common for users to rename the generic user account they
started out
with (i.e., rename Computer Administrator to Dick) instead of creating a
new user account as they should.> I guess I thought this was an option not
realizing you told me renaming an account didn't work in some previous
email.

Anyway, being retired with only time and pride available, the $100+ to
come out seems expensive.

I guess my last querry:
Any feelings on letting it be done remotely (considerably cheaper
supposedly)??

Sorry, I don't do remote work for people I help in newsgroups.

Look, this is very simple:

1. Any user accounts that you *renamed* (from Computer Administrator to Dick
for example), NAME THEM BACK TO THE ORIGINAL. Do this from Control
Panel>User Accounts on both comptuers.

2. Now look at the *true* user account names:

XP: C:\Documents and Settings - WRITE DOWN WHAT YOU SEE (exclude All Users
and Default User).

Vista: C:\Users - WRITE DOWN WHAT YOU SEE (exclude Public and Default User
if visible).

3. Go to each computer and from Control Panel>User Accounts create new users
with the names to match on each machine where you need them. Assign a
simple password to each user account*. It can be "1234" or "Dick" or
"password". But just do it. When you are finished, both machines should
have identical user accounts/passwords. You can use different passwords but
since security doesn't matter in your case you don't have to. Make this
*simple*.

*Leave Guest disabled on both computers.

Example of both computers when you have finished (obviously use the user
account names you really have):

XP box: Computer Administrator - password 1234
Owner - password 1234
Vista Owner - password 1234

Vista box: Computer Administrator - password 1234
Owner - password 1234
Vista Owner - password 1234

4. Now go to the XP box. If it is XP Pro or XP Media Center, go to Control
Panel>Folder Options>View tab and *uncheck* the option to use Simple File
Sharing.

4a. You need to set your firewalls ON BOTH COMPUTERS to allow file/printer
sharing. If Norton is the firewall, set this in Norton. If Windows Firewall
is the firewall, put a checkmark in File and Printer Sharing in the Windows
Firewall Exceptions tab.

4b. On the Vista box in the Network and Sharing Center:

Network Discovery: ON
File Sharing: ON
Public Folder Sharing: ON
Printer Sharing: ON
Password Protected Sharing: ON
Media Sharing: Off

5. On the XP box, go to Control Panel>Printers and see your printer listed.
Right-click on it and Share the printer.

6. On the Vista box, you need to have Vista drivers for that printer. If
there are no Vista drivers on the CD that you got with the printer (because
it's older) or you have lost the disc, go to the printer mftr.'s website
and download Vista drivers - ON THE VISTA BOX - for that specific model
printer.

Now install the Vista drivers on the Vista computer and during the
installation process the shared printer on the XP box should be found.

Malke

 

[dick]

Thanks for your immediate responses. It'll be a couple of weeks before I can
get back on the Network due to a trip. Thanks again, Dick