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    Complicated Networking and Printer Sharing

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by Coldjonny, Mar 16, 2009.

  1. Coldjonny

    Coldjonny Notebook Consultant

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    Or at least I think it is...
    I need some help here.

    What I'm trying to do is essentially make it possible for my laptop to use a printer on a network.
    But it's a tad more complicated than that.

    Here's my setup:
    A printer, connected by USB to a desktop computer. The desktop computer is connected to a router using an ethernet cable.
    My laptop is connected to the same router wirelessly.
    The router is a Netgear DG834G. It doesn't have any USB connectivity for printers - and I would prefer not to get another one ideally :p

    My desktop is running windows XP, and my laptop is (now, and until August...) running the Windows 7 beta - but I couldn't seem to get it to work even with Vista. Well, UAC never made it any easier. (God bless windows 7... at least for the disappearance of UAC lol)

    At the moment, I can't see the other computer anywhere in network connections on either computer. If i go onto my router settings, they are both attached, and both have fully working internet.
    I'm expecting to have my desktop computer on obviously to use the printer from my laptop.
    I've turned all network setting on both computers to shared everything etc., but I still can't so much as see them in network connections on either.
    Meanwhile, windows 7 homegroups are obviously no use - even if i could make them see each other - as XP can't use homegroups (well that was a tad stupid Microsoft.)
    I hope this gives you an idea of what I'm trying to do here.
    Any suggestions? I'm really stumped by this one :(
     
    Coldjonny, Mar 16, 2009
    #1
  2. ATG

    ATG 2x4 Super Moderator

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    ATG, Mar 16, 2009
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  3. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

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    What versions of windows are you using? 32 bit or 64bit? is it an HP printer?
     
    nizzy1115, Mar 16, 2009
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  4. Coldjonny

    Coldjonny Notebook Consultant

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    woops forgot the printer make lol
    Okay both are on 32-bit windows and the printer is a HP Deskjet 5150
     
    Coldjonny, Mar 16, 2009
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  5. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

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    did you explicitly share the printer? Right click on it, share it, give it a short name?

    Now can you see it?

    Do both computers have the same workgroup? By default, XP chooses MSHOME, and VISTA uses WORKGROUP....Windows 7 I think also uses workgroup

    In order to share the printer, both computers must be on the same network (ip address range) in the same workgroup, and the printer must be explicitly shared.
     
    gerryf19, Mar 17, 2009
    #5
  6. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    What Service Pack for XP are you running on the desktop?
     
    Shyster1, Mar 17, 2009
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  7. Coldjonny

    Coldjonny Notebook Consultant

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    Service Pack 3

    I'm going to give these things a shot today, see what happens and I'll post my results on here.
    Thanks for the help so far!
     
    Coldjonny, Mar 18, 2009
    #7
  8. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Ok. That rules out my easy answer. :(
     
    Shyster1, Mar 18, 2009
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  9. Ethyriel

    Ethyriel Notebook Deity

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    Make sure both computers are in the same subnet, and that your router isn't firewalling the wireless network from the wired network.
     
    Ethyriel, Mar 18, 2009
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  10. Ethyriel

    Ethyriel Notebook Deity

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    Oh, and I forgot the most common problem. Your software firewall (or even just the 'plain' antivirus from some companies) may be blocking access to the smb protocol.
     
    Ethyriel, Mar 18, 2009
    #10