Sharing a Printer on a Wireless Network

[Daave]

I am at a neighbor's house right now. They recently received a Westell
7500 wireless modem/router, which seems to be configured correctly.
Both PCs run Windows XP Home. The router is connected to the desktop
PC (Compaq Presario 5000) and the laptop (Acer Aspire 3002 LCi) is now
able to access Internet connectivity via its wireless card.

They would like to be able to print to the HP JaserJet 1200 printer,
which is connected to the desktop. How is this best accomplished? I
tried running the Add-a-Printer wizard, but when I browse, I cannot
find the network. I even tried with the Windows firewall turned off.

I also tried using the Add-a-network-place wizard. Selecting Microsoft
Windows Network and then Workgroup leads to a dead end, unfortunately.

I imagine that a router that allows a direct printer connection is the
standard solution, but are there any workarounds for this current
setup?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Big_Al]

I am at a neighbor's house right now. They recently received a Westell
7500 wireless modem/router, which seems to be configured correctly.
Both PCs run Windows XP Home. The router is connected to the desktop
PC (Compaq Presario 5000) and the laptop (Acer Aspire 3002 LCi) is now
able to access Internet connectivity via its wireless card.

They would like to be able to print to the HP JaserJet 1200 printer,
which is connected to the desktop. How is this best accomplished? I
tried running the Add-a-Printer wizard, but when I browse, I cannot
find the network. I even tried with the Windows firewall turned off.

I also tried using the Add-a-network-place wizard. Selecting Microsoft
Windows Network and then Workgroup leads to a dead end, unfortunately.

I imagine that a router that allows a direct printer connection is the
standard solution, but are there any workarounds for this current
setup?

Thanks in advance.

If the HP 1200 is connected to a PC, do you have it shared on that PC so
it can be seen on the network?

Then you would go to any other PC and locate the printer or just type in
//PC/hp1200 (or whatever the name is). Browsing is simpler.

 

[Nepatsfan]

I am at a neighbor's house right now. They recently received a Westell
7500 wireless modem/router, which seems to be configured correctly.
Both PCs run Windows XP Home. The router is connected to the desktop
PC (Compaq Presario 5000) and the laptop (Acer Aspire 3002 LCi) is now
able to access Internet connectivity via its wireless card.

They would like to be able to print to the HP JaserJet 1200 printer,
which is connected to the desktop. How is this best accomplished? I
tried running the Add-a-Printer wizard, but when I browse, I cannot
find the network. I even tried with the Windows firewall turned off.

I also tried using the Add-a-network-place wizard. Selecting Microsoft
Windows Network and then Workgroup leads to a dead end, unfortunately.

I imagine that a router that allows a direct printer connection is the
standard solution, but are there any workarounds for this current
setup?

Thanks in advance.

Have you gone into the Printers and Faxes folder on the Compaq PC and actually
configured the HP printer so it's shared? You need to right click on the
printers icon, select Properties from the menu, click on the Sharing tab, and
select Share this printer.

Also, make sure any third party firewalls are configured to allow File and
Printer sharing on their network.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Anna]

I am at a neighbor's house right now. They recently received a Westell
7500 wireless modem/router, which seems to be configured correctly.
Both PCs run Windows XP Home. The router is connected to the desktop
PC (Compaq Presario 5000) and the laptop (Acer Aspire 3002 LCi) is now
able to access Internet connectivity via its wireless card.

They would like to be able to print to the HP JaserJet 1200 printer,
which is connected to the desktop. How is this best accomplished? I
tried running the Add-a-Printer wizard, but when I browse, I cannot
find the network. I even tried with the Windows firewall turned off.

I also tried using the Add-a-network-place wizard. Selecting Microsoft
Windows Network and then Workgroup leads to a dead end, unfortunately.

I imagine that a router that allows a direct printer connection is the
standard solution, but are there any workarounds for this current
setup?

Thanks in advance.

Daave:
In response to a request we rec'd from a local computer club user's group we
prepared the following step-by-step instructions for basic printer sharing
on a home network. See if this works...

The following assumes that the PCs on the network are communicating with
each other satisfactorily and that the PC to which the printer is connected
is powered on.

On the computer to which the printer is installed...
1. Begin by noting the "Full computer name" of this computer. If you don't
know the computer name, it can be found through Start > Control Panel >
System > Computer Name tab. (Pressing the WinKey + Pause keys will also
display the System Properties window and its Computer Name tab). In this
example we'll assume the Computer Name is ANNA.

2. Start > Control Panel > Printers and Faxes > right-click on printer and
click on Sharing.

3. Select the "Share this printer" option under the Sharing tab, and in the
"Share name" text box enter a name for the printer, e.g., "HP3310" (no
quotes) - it's always best to avoid spaces in the name entered. Make a note
of the printer name and click OK.


On the computer that wishes to access the printer...
1. Start > Control Panel > Printers and Faxes > Add Printer > "Add Printer
Wizard" will open. Click Next.

2. Select the option "A network printer, or a printer attached to another
computer". Click Next.

3. In the "Specify a Printer" dialog that opens select the option "Connect
to a printer on the Internet or on a home or office network:". In the "URL"
text box enter the path to the printer, e.g., \\ANNA\HP3310. Note the two
backslashes preceding the Computer Name. Click Next.

4. The "Connect to Printer" confirmation dialog box will open indicating
that a printer driver will be installed on this machine. Click "Yes" to
continue.

5. In the "Default Printer" dialog box that opens, presumably you will
select the "Yes" option for using this printer as the default printer. Click
Next.

6. The "Completing the Add Printer Wizard" window will open summarizing the
printer settings. Verify the info and click Finish.

Hope this helps.
Anna

 

[Jim]

I am at a neighbor's house right now. They recently received a Westell
7500 wireless modem/router, which seems to be configured correctly.
Both PCs run Windows XP Home. The router is connected to the desktop
PC (Compaq Presario 5000) and the laptop (Acer Aspire 3002 LCi) is now
able to access Internet connectivity via its wireless card.

They would like to be able to print to the HP JaserJet 1200 printer,
which is connected to the desktop. How is this best accomplished? I
tried running the Add-a-Printer wizard, but when I browse, I cannot
find the network. I even tried with the Windows firewall turned off.

I also tried using the Add-a-network-place wizard. Selecting Microsoft
Windows Network and then Workgroup leads to a dead end, unfortunately.

I imagine that a router that allows a direct printer connection is the
standard solution, but are there any workarounds for this current
setup?

Thanks in advance.

I have had a similar arrangement going for well over a couple of years now.

Doesn't the fine manual for your printer tell you how to setup the printer
driver (on both machines, if needed)? Many drivers are written to need the
driver software on all computers.
That is the case for my Epson Photo 1280. Some others do not, for example
my very new Epson R1900. Only the fine manual can tell you about your
particular printer.

Instead of disabling the Windows firewall (which is ill advised to say the
least), did you not all file and printer sharing through both of them?

Jim

 

[Daave]

If the HP 1200 is connected to a PC, do you have it shared on that PC
so it can be seen on the network?

Then you would go to any other PC and locate the printer or just type
in
//PC/hp1200 (or whatever the name is). Browsing is simpler.

A big thank you to everyone for your suggestions.

It turns out I was under the illusion the two PCs were networked. The
laptop was able to go online because the router was configured properly.
But still, I needed to run Windows' New Connection Wizard on both PCs in
order to allow file and printer sharing to work, so a tip of the hat to
Big_Al.

And once, the network was established, browsing for a printer did the
trick (but I still like your suggestion, Anna).

Jim and Nepatsfan had solid suggestions about configuring the Windows
Firewall to allow file and printer sharing on the network.

And Jim, I disagree that disabling the Windows firewall for a few
moments is ill advised, considering both PCs were behind a NAT router (I
even had visited grc.com to be on the safe side to run Shields Up).

Thanks again to everyone for your input; it was much appreciated.