We are currently networking wirelessly in our home with two laptops and a handheld and have a desktop directly attached to the router.
Is there a way that we can use the wireless connection to print from the laptops using the printer connected to the desktop? The desktop is always on and the netgear router has a built-in firewall. I tried installing the driver on one of the laptops to test it out, but it wants the printer connected to install it. With our built-in cabinetry that would be a project, so I thought I'd ask here before I try to do my own tests.
The first thing you have to do is enable file and printer sharing on the desktop that is connected to the printer. You then have to designate the printer as a shared device. If the desktop is running Windows XP, make sure the XP built-in firewall is disabled. If the laptops are running Windows XP, then they should pick up the shared printer as a shared device and install drivers for that printer. The printer should then show up in the printers folder on the laptops. If the laptops are not running XP, then you will have to install the printer drivers and designate the printer as a network printer when you install the drivers.
Well, interestingly, without making any additional changes or doing anything at all the printing suddenly started working again. It must have been having a tempermental moment.
qtrhrs
54 Posts
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Posted April 28th, 2004 18:00
I figured it had to be something that simple. Thanks.