The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Wirelessly connecting to a printer

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by theoptimist, Jul 17, 2009.

  1. theoptimist

    theoptimist Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Both my printer and my laptop have bluetooth, but I can't connect them. Whenever I try to add a new printer, nothing comes up. I tried turning on discovery and everything. So, any help at all would be appreciated. Thanks.
     
    theoptimist, Jul 17, 2009
    #1
  2. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

    Reputations:
    2,275
    Messages:
    3,990
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    maybe you could tell us what printer? And what laptop bluetooth adapter....I mean, throw us a bone....if I told you my car doesn't work, what's wrong with it? Oh yeah, it's blue, would you be able to help?
     
    gerryf19, Jul 17, 2009
    #2
  3. theoptimist

    theoptimist Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    It's an HP Photosmart 8050... The laptop just says something like "Turn bluetooth adapter on". How do I check what type of adapter? and sorry for being too vague.
     
    theoptimist, Jul 19, 2009
    #3
  4. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

    Reputations:
    836
    Messages:
    3,682
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Have you followed the instructions that came with your printer? Also, have you followed the instructions for your particular operating system (you didn't specify Vista, XP, Windows 7, etc)?
     
    kegobeer, Jul 19, 2009
    #4
  5. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

    Reputations:
    2,275
    Messages:
    3,990
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    That printer does not come with bluetooth installed, but an optional adapter is included that plugs in on the front left side....I don't want to seem overly obvious, did you plug the adapter in? In such cases, there is rarely a switch for on and off--you plug it in and it is "on"
     
    gerryf19, Jul 19, 2009
    #5
  6. theoptimist

    theoptimist Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    It's Vista, and nothing's on the front, so I guess there was no adapter. Well, this might be a bit off-topic, but this printer is also connected to a desktop. How do I connect it through a network, then?
     
    theoptimist, Jul 19, 2009
    #6
  7. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

    Reputations:
    836
    Messages:
    3,682
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Consult your printer's documentation to determine how the bluetooth adapter is installed. Since I haven't read the manual, I can't tell you if there is or is not an adapter.

    If you have several computers networked at home, and they are on the same workgroup, then the computer attached to the printer can share it for all of the workgroup members. There are tons of sites that can help you share your printer in Vista.
     
    kegobeer, Jul 19, 2009
    #7
  8. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

    Reputations:
    2,275
    Messages:
    3,990
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Basically,ensure all computers are in the same workgroup

    XP
    Right click MY COMPUTER, choose PROPERTIES, choose NAME tab.

    Vista
    Right click COMPUTER, choose PROPERTIES, choose ADVANCED SYSTEM SETTINGS on the left. Look at the COMPUTER NAME tab

    Check the workgroup name on each and make it the same.

    Now, on the computer the printer is connected directly to, right click it and choose SHARE

    Now, on the computers the printer is not connected to, go to PRINTERS in control panel and add a printer CONNECTED TO ANOTHER COMPUTER and follow the wizard
     
    gerryf19, Jul 20, 2009
    #8
  9. theoptimist

    theoptimist Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Hey. If I have a desktop and a laptop, how do I make them share networks? (I want to share printers, so yeah.). Haha. Thanks guys.
     
    theoptimist, Jul 20, 2009
    #9
  10. Shyster1

    Shyster1 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    6,926
    Messages:
    8,178
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Are they already connected to the same network, or not?
     
    Shyster1, Jul 20, 2009
    #10
  11. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

    Reputations:
    836
    Messages:
    3,682
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    kegobeer, Jul 20, 2009
    #11
  12. theoptimist

    theoptimist Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I tried that, and the printer is listed. But when I print something, it won't print. (but the desktop could print.)
     
    theoptimist, Jul 20, 2009
    #12
  13. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

    Reputations:
    2,275
    Messages:
    3,990
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Does the desktop have Vista or XP?

    One of the problems with HP printers is that they don't have the capability to easily add drivers for different Operating Systems....sometimes, it takes a bit of finagling to get it all working right.
     
    gerryf19, Jul 20, 2009
    #13
  14. theoptimist

    theoptimist Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    My desktop has xp while my laptop has vista.
     
    theoptimist, Jul 20, 2009
    #14
  15. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

    Reputations:
    2,275
    Messages:
    3,990
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    figures...when you tried to connect to the shared printer did it find a printer driver or not?

    Sometimes, the best way to get the thing up is to attach the printer to the laptop and run the friggin HP driver CD.

    Once complete, then run the sharing wizard and the drivers will already be on the laptop. It will ask you if you want to use the drivers that are already installed.

    then you can delete the printer in the list that was used while directly attached.
     
    gerryf19, Jul 20, 2009
    #15
  16. theoptimist

    theoptimist Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Sorry about this question, but how do you get onto the sharing wizard? I think I forgot.
     
    theoptimist, Jul 21, 2009
    #16
  17. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

    Reputations:
    836
    Messages:
    3,682
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Your desktop has the printer connected via USB, correct? What version of XP do you have on the desktop? What version of Vista do you have on the laptop?

    Are you running any security software on either computer?
     
    kegobeer, Jul 21, 2009
    #17
  18. theoptimist

    theoptimist Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Ya, the desktop is connected via USB, and it has SP3. The laptop has Vista Business 64 Bit. And does norton count as security software?
     
    theoptimist, Jul 21, 2009
    #18
  19. kegobeer

    kegobeer 1 hr late but moving fast

    Reputations:
    836
    Messages:
    3,682
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    If it is the Norton security suite, then yes. What version of XP is it? Pro, Home?
     
    kegobeer, Jul 21, 2009
    #19
  20. Padmé

    Padmé NBR Super Pink Princess

    Reputations:
    4,674
    Messages:
    3,803
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Your threads have been merged. Do not make multiple threads on the same topic. It is against the forum rules.
     
    Padmé, Jul 21, 2009
    #20
  21. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

    Reputations:
    2,275
    Messages:
    3,990
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    I'm sorry...I meant the printer wizard....
     
    gerryf19, Jul 22, 2009
    #21
  22. theoptimist

    theoptimist Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    i tried that, and it didn't work
     
    theoptimist, Jul 22, 2009
    #22
  23. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

    Reputations:
    2,275
    Messages:
    3,990
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Looking back, you never confirmed if you did what was asked several posts back

    Follow the instructions for the printer and connect it directly to you computer with a usb cable when directed.

    Then disconnected the cable, and install a second printer wirelessly.
     
    gerryf19, Jul 23, 2009
    #23