Can't see networked printers.

Question

I have networked four computers, two running XP and two running W98SE. Printers are connected to three of them. The XP machines can see the shared files and printers of all the other computers. The W98SE computers can see the shared files of all PCs but they can't see the printers attached to the XP machines. All the PCs can access the Internet without problem. In summary, this network is perfect except for the inability of the W98SE machines to see the XP printers. When I try to 'Add Networked Printer' and I browse to the XP machines, I do not see their printers listed. In fact, when I click on the + sign to expand that XP machine, the + disappears and there is no printer seen attached to the PC, even though there is a printer there. What could be the reason networked PCs can see shared files but not the printers? Thanks!

volcano11 · Answer

Try adding the printers on the Windows 98 machines by specifying the port. Use the forum \\computername\printername where computername is the network name of the computer to which the printer is attached and printername is the network name for that printer. Note that you will have to install Windows 98 drivers for those printers once you can get the printers recognized.

Steve

kenglund · Answer

Thanks for good suggestions which worked! I can now print to all the printers in my network. The odd thing is the XP printers still do not show up in Network Neighborhood of the W98 machines. For some reason, they are 'invisible'. However, they are listed in the drop-down menus of the printer dialogue boxes. I can't figure that out but as long as I can print to them, I can live with that mystery.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Can't see networked printers.

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