sharing a printer from a PC to my laptop

[Guest]

Just got a new Laptop, a Toshiba Satellite and it is on Windows XP as is my
desktop. Called Toshiba Help and Support and they said that the printer has
to have wireless capabilities...I don't believe that but anyway, here's the
deal. I set up on the desktop as shared and it gave a name of HPPSC240.
Then I go to the laptop which is running off the linksys connected to my
desktop. I do add printer, connect to a network printer or a printer that is
connected to another computer. Then I do browse for printer and it shows
MSGROUP (a workgroup I defined...) and EllenSPC...if I select either of those
and type in the printer name it says Windows cannnot connect to the
printer...either the name was typed incorrectly or the printer has lost it's
connection. So then I try option 2 where I type in \\server\printer and it
comes up with a box that says Connecting to EllensPC and asks for user name
and password. I enter this and it says Windows cannot connect to the
printer. Operation not completed. I have read everything and can't figure
out what is wrong. Help?
Ellei1

 

[Guest]

Okay I figured it out for myself so no need to reply. The problem was with
the user name and password I was entering....I had no password so when I went
back and assigned one, and entered that, I got connected...and WITHOUT a
wireless Printer can you imagine?

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

See:
http://www.coribright.com/windows/Article Five.htm

 

[Guest]

Yes had read ur article but that is not how mine worked...when I did a browse
it came up with the name of my workgroup and the name of my PC....neither of
which worked for the printer name which I input. I had to select the 2nd
option which is where I entered \\server\printer and only then did I get it
to work....kinda weird...both on Win XP altho one is media center and one is
home edition
Ellei1

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

\\server\printer is only going to work if your Desktop is called Server and
your Printer is called Printer.

Can the Desktop access the files and folders on the Notebook and vice versa?
Are they BOTH in the same workgroup? What firewall software are you
running?

 

[Guest]

Well that wud be my next tackle....how to share files and folders. I was
told u didn't have to do that to share the printer but I still want to know.
Yes they are both in the same workgroup and when I clicked on browse for
printer it came up with the workgroup name and the PC name but no printer
names. I'm not sure about the firewalls on the Laptop but the PC says
Windows Firewall is protecting your PC but actually when I go to the laptop
and check for wireless networks it says mine (linksys) is unsecured....so not
even sure about if the PC has a real firewall....

 

[Cari \(MS-MVP\)]

See if Ron Pacciano's article helps
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/qa/qa20030619.shtml

 

[Guest]

Ron's article was a bit confusing for me...finally found the IP address but
it is blank and says automatically configured but doesn't show me what it
is...there is a place I can enter one...anyway I ended up using the network
setup wizard. I am able to share files and the printer now but I have to, on
my laptop, click on My Network Places, then click on my desktop icon and then
enter a userid and password...it's weird because when I first set it up that
way I didn't have to do that....I did get a new laptop and they swapped my
hard drive and I also installed Norton. I'm still not sure why I have to go
thru those steps now tho...any ideas?