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    USB printer, Apple express router and Vista.

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by Infoseeker, Jul 21, 2008.

  1. Infoseeker

    Infoseeker Notebook Evangelist

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    Ever since I got Vista I can't seem to connect to my Brother DCP-7020 printer which is connected, via usb, to my Apple express router.

    With Windows XP-professional I could find the printer in the network, but with Vista Home Premium (64bit) the printer is non-existent in my network.

    If my laptop is connected directly, via usb, to the printer I can print.

    Any advice?

    All I find googling around is to use a computer that is left on all the time with the printer and do printer sharing. But unfortunately I don't have a desktop to do that.
    The printer is obviously in another location.
     
    Infoseeker, Jul 21, 2008
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  2. Jstn7477

    Jstn7477 Sam I Am

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    Did you set the network type to "Home" (discoverable mode) when you first connected to the wireless network? That's the only thing that has really changed between XP and Vista as far as wireless networking goes. Maybe you should also play around with the Network and Sharing Center.

    -J.B.
     
    Jstn7477, Jul 21, 2008
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  3. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    You should also check to see whether or not both the printer and the router are _Vista compatible - the manufacturer should be able to tell you. With luck, you may need no more than a firmware upgrade to get things working again.

    Part of the problem is most likely due to the fact that _Vista uses something called Link Layer Topology to "see" the network it's on, and, what's worse, that protocol isn't even compatible with XP unless you download and install a special responder app on the XP machine so that the _Vista machine can "see" the XP machine.
     
    Shyster1, Jul 21, 2008
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  4. Infoseeker

    Infoseeker Notebook Evangelist

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    Yeah, this is mostly what I'm reading about. Getting to the printer through a XP-computer.

    I guess I hope brother company puts some effort towards their semi-old models for firmware upgrades.
     
    Infoseeker, Jul 21, 2008
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  5. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    According to the Brother USA website, the DCP-7020 should be compatible with _Vista for purposes of printing and scanning, as stated in the System Requirements for that model.

    According to this Brother/Vista compatibility chart, there was a firmware update on Feb 23, 2007, for the DCP-7020, so you should get that firmware update if you haven't already.
     
    Shyster1, Jul 22, 2008
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