network printer share

Question

Hello, I have a network with three computers connected, and one has a printer on it. I was wondering if there was a way that i could set it up so that i can print from that same printer from any of the three computers. The printer is on Windows 98 1st edition and the other two computers are Windows XP Home Edition. I can't put the printer on the Windows XP computers because there USB ports are in use.

Any help would be appreciated.

Message Edited by sevag55 on 12-21-2003 03:00 PM

volcano11 · Answer

Does your network work for file sharing? Steve

sevag55 · Answer

I dont use it at the moment but i've tried it before and it has worked. I just realized that by going to the control panel>network then clicking on file and printer sharing it made it so that now when i right click on the printer it now has a sharing option, so i clicked on that then i chose share it and i chose the name as 'LEXMARK' and when i got on my Windows XP computer it couldnt find anything when i browsed it and i entered the name LEXMARK and it said 'either i entered the name wrong or it cant find the printer specified' .

volcano11 · Answer

On the computer that has the printer attached, open the Printers folder, right click on the printer you want to share across the network and and select "Sharing" from the drop-down menu. Give the printer a name on the network. Since the other computers are running XP, they may pick up the shared printer and install drivers. If not, you will have go to the printers folder and select Add printer, specify a network printer, and if necessary, install the Windows XP compatible printer drivers for the shared printer.

See the following Microsft article for additional information:

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/broadbandnetworking/10_concept_printer_share.mspx

Steve

sevag55 · Answer

I right clicked it but there wasnt an option for sharing. So i went to my control panel and clicked on network configuration and clicked on file or printer sharing and chose printer sharing and hit ok, then it build a driver database then said it has to restart for the system changes to take effect, so i restarted it and it didnt say anything after that so i thought it worked, i went to my windows xp computers and tried to browse for available printers on the network but it didnt find any printers.

sevag55 · Answer

I'm sorry, whats NETBIOS? And how do I check if the Windows XP firewalls are on or off, and I also have McAfee firewall which I can disable. Should that be disabled? And I forgot to say before, I'm connected through a wireless router network if it makes any difference.

volcano11 · Answer

On the XP computers, make sure that the Windows XP firewall is not enabled on the local area connection, and make sure that NETBIOS over TCP/IP is enabled. Steve

volcano11 · Answer

Go Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet Connections > Network Connections, then select your network connection. On the Advanced tab, make sure the box next to "Protect my computer and network....... is not checked.

For NETBIOS, got back to the General tab of Network Connections, select the TCP/IP Protocol, then click on "Properties" Click on the WINS tab and then Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP.

I know little about the McAfee Firewall, but I do know that it has to be configured in order for File and Printer Sharing to work. Disable it for now until you get the network and printer sharing to work. You can then check the documentation for McAfee and figure out how to make it not block the local network traffic.

Steve

Message Edited by volcano11 on 12-21-2003 05:13 PM

volcano11 · Answer

Did you disable the McAfee firewall? Can you browse to any folders on the network computer, assuming you have designated folders or divers as shared devices? You migth want to completely unisntall the McAfee firewall until you get this sorted out.

Steve

sevag55 · Answer

Ok, I did what you said and it still doesnt work it says the same thing when i browse, takes about 30 seconds to browse then it comes up with one option saying 'microsoft windows network' then when i choose it and hit next it says 'you need to specify a valid printer name' and then i type in the name (LEXMARK) and it says 'windows cannot connect to the specified printer, either the printer name was typed incorrectly or the specified printer has lost its connection to the server'

sevag55 · Answer

Yes I've disabled the firewall and I was able to get any file i needed from the other computers with file sharing, but I'm not sure about the printer. Also do I have to enable DMZ? And if so i'm not sure how to enable it for all of the computers because it says enable DMZ host for - 192.168.2.X and you have to put the number in for X.

Message Edited by sevag55 on 12-21-2003 07:16 PM

volcano11 · Answer

DMZ opens one computer up to the internet. You do not want to or need to enable DMZ to get the local network to work for printer sharing. Your network should work behind the firewall provided by the router. If you can share files across the network and if your printer is designated as a shared device, there is no reason why you should not be able to see it on the network and use it across the network. Reboot all the computers and see if it starts to work.

Steve

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network printer share

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