Accessing desktop printer from my wireless laptop

Question

Sharing has been chosen on both computers. XP Home on both... the desktop is a Dimension 4500 and the laptop is an Inspiron E1705. Both are connected to the internet and a network has been established. I can see both computers from both machines but when I try and add a printer to the laptop it will not open the desktop printers in the window that opens to add the printer from... says the spool is not running or that I do not have permission to access (which I do according to the sharing page) The printer worked fine from both machines until I had to replace my modem/router last week, now it only works from my desktop. Spent 2 hours with tech last nite and it still does not work. McAfee firewalls are on but that did not effect the other router... the printer worked fine with all firewalls up. I figured the McAfee firewalls are blocking incoming from the 'net' and not the network exchanges??   anyway..... I only want to access my desktop printer from my laptop.   thanks, Bill   PS: I just updated my email address so please note!!! Message Edited by speezack on 01-02-200710:02 AM

RKinner · Answer

I'm not familiar with the McAfee firewall but it probably works like the Zone Alarm one.  In Zone Alarm you have to tell it that that a certain range of IP addresses is part of the local or more trusted zone  then it won't block traffic to and from those addresses.  Since you changed out the router and it stopped working the odds are that the new router uses a different range of addresses than before (and since it provides via DHCP the IP addresses to your computers these would have changed to.  We are probably talking about a small change from 192.168.0.x to 192.168.1.x or vice versa.)and you need to tell your firewall to put the new address range in the trusted zone.   To find out what IP address you are using on each computer you can Start, Run, cmd, OK then type:   ipconfig   and it will tell you.  Then add the other PC's address to McAfee's Trusted Address list on each PC.  Make sure you do not add the IP of the router to the Trusted list (usually this is .1 but it may be .100 or .254 depending on make.)  These addresses can change but usually won't unless you disconnect them fro a long time and perhaps hook somehting else up in their place.    You may find it easier to disconnect from the internet then turn off both firewalls and get your printer sharing set up and working then turn on the firewalls and see if they stop it from working.   Ron

speezack · Answer

Ron...... your a genius!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :smileyhappy:   I did exactly what you suggested... went in to both computers and checked the trusted IP addresses in McAfee........ guess what.... the one on the laptop was fine but the one that clears the laptop to access the desktop did not have a check in the box to approve the IP of the laptop.... so I simply checked it and didn't even have to restart either... just went in and 'added a printer' to the laptop.... it immediately saw the desktop and the printer I wanted, chose that one... and ..... installed the driver automatically and it works fine........... that is all I tried to do for 2 hours with Dell tech and you were all I needed...........THANK YOU A BUNCH.......... TELL ME WHO TO CALL, YOU NEED A RAISE....

RKinner · Answer

Glad it helped.  I'm just a volunteer on the forum.  Killing time since things are slow at my real job.    Ron

krankin · Answer

Moved to appropriate board. (TechTalk - Networking/Internet - Wireless)

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Accessing desktop printer from my wireless laptop

Was this post helpful?