Start by telling us how you are sharing the DSL connection. If it is through a router, then your computers are already networked. If file and printer sharing is enabled on each computer, if all computers are in the same workgroup (not really necessary, but it makes it easier), if the printer has been designated as a share device, and if all firewalls have been configured to allow File and Printer Sharing, then you should be set to go. Normally Windows XP finds networks printers and installs the proper drivers. If XP doesn't find the printers or if you have computers running something other than Windows XP, then you will have to install the printers as network printers, using the browse button in the printer installation routine, to browse to the location of the printer.
The PC that the printer was directly connected was designated to my knowledge to "share printer".
The other PCs were set up to "share printer", but when asked about creating a disk, or to insert a disk, I was unable to create a disk as the PC would not write to CD-RW, I received a message stating I needed removable media to create the disk. The PCs only have CD-RW writable drives. I do not know if this portion of the process enables or installs printer drivers or what purpose it does server.
The "host printer" PC seemed to "recognize" the other PCs, but when performing the "using the browse button in the printer installation routine, to browse to the location of the printer", on the other PCs, no printers were located by the PCs.
Thank you very much for the reply. I appreciate the response.
The only computer on which the printer should be designated is shared is the computer to which the printer is attached. Designating it as a shared printer on other computers will just mess things up more.
On the other computers, see if you can install the printer by adding a port. The name of the port will be \\computername\printername, where computername is the network name of the computer to which the printer is attached and printername is the name you gave that printer when you designated it as a shared printer.
Volcano11, I can't thank you enough for what seems to be the simplest, but effective instructions I've received to date. I have been able to share the printer with 3 other PCs and plan to set up another PC next week.
Dell email support was unable to present anything to me that amounted to your recent response. Yours was easy to follow and the explaination that not designating the shared printer on the other PCs (initiating the share printer procedure) was something not addressed by anyone else.
volcano11
2 Intern
•
28K Posts
0
May 19th, 2005 00:00
Start by telling us how you are sharing the DSL connection. If it is through a router, then your computers are already networked. If file and printer sharing is enabled on each computer, if all computers are in the same workgroup (not really necessary, but it makes it easier), if the printer has been designated as a share device, and if all firewalls have been configured to allow File and Printer Sharing, then you should be set to go. Normally Windows XP finds networks printers and installs the proper drivers. If XP doesn't find the printers or if you have computers running something other than Windows XP, then you will have to install the printers as network printers, using the browse button in the printer installation routine, to browse to the location of the printer.
Steve
REAP
5 Posts
0
May 19th, 2005 17:00
volcano11
2 Intern
•
28K Posts
0
May 20th, 2005 04:00
The only computer on which the printer should be designated is shared is the computer to which the printer is attached. Designating it as a shared printer on other computers will just mess things up more.
On the other computers, see if you can install the printer by adding a port. The name of the port will be \\computername\printername, where computername is the network name of the computer to which the printer is attached and printername is the name you gave that printer when you designated it as a shared printer.
Steve
REAP
5 Posts
0
May 20th, 2005 20:00
Volcano11, I can't thank you enough for what seems to be the simplest, but effective instructions I've received to date. I have been able to share the printer with 3 other PCs and plan to set up another PC next week.
Dell email support was unable to present anything to me that amounted to your recent response. Yours was easy to follow and the explaination that not designating the shared printer on the other PCs (initiating the share printer procedure) was something not addressed by anyone else.
If I could send you a thank you gift, I would.