Vista does not discover printer

[gvm]

Unfortunately, Vista does not allow me to install a printer as easily as XP
does.

With XP, the printer add-in wizard would allow me to specify a local network
printer by specifying its address, eg //computer_name/printer_name.

However Vista does not give me the option, it supposedly searches for
available printers instead. My problem is that when Vista searches, it does
not see the printer.

XP can see and use the printer OK, Vista can't. How do I get around this
problem please? TIA ... Greg

 

[beoweolf]

Yes, Vista does allow printer share addressing. It is just as easy, if not
simpler with Vista than with XP. The only real issue is whether the printer
is visible on the network and you are using the correct share name and
format.

Is the target printer USB, or conventional? Is the printer shared out from
the host?

 

[gvm]

It would be easier if Vista found the printer for itself; whilst I have to
tell XP the address it at least succeeds in finding it. The printer is
visible since other XP-based machines can see it. I don't enter any share
name or format: that was the point of my question, since unlike XP, Vista
does not seem to give me the option to enter the name. How do I make it give
me the chance to specify the name?

 

[RobFJ]

I had the same problem and this is the way that worked for me. I'll put up
the full details although you're obviously part way there.

1. On your network, look at the computer name for the computer you wish to
connect to (Host) and click in to it. You should be able to see the name of
the printer you wish to connect. You will need these 2 names for step number
7/8.

2. On the pc you want to add the printer, click on the Printers icon in the
control panel.

3. Right click on a blank portion of the screen, select add printer and a
menu will pop up.

4. Choose the add local printer option.

5. Now choose 'Create New Port'.

6. Click Next.

7. Another popup screen will open. This is where you need the computer and
printer name.

8. Enter the following into the box that asks for a port name :
\\computername\printername

9. Click OK

10. It will now prompt you to pick your printer firmware. Select your model.

11. Click Next. It will now ask to either use the installed driver, or
replace the current driver. Pick what you wish.

12. Voila - it should work.


If, at 11, you can't pick up the required drivers on your pc then first
install the printer as a local printer to an existing port (eg lpt4). Then
go the properties box of the printer and choose the port option. Use 'Add
Local Port' and start the above from step 8.