Wireless network questions

Donnyj · Jan 3, 2006

This is what happened. I tried to add another printer, seen the HP printer on the network, but it would not install. The number of printers stayed at one instead of now 2. One quick note, if I unshared the printer on the notebook, I could not see the printer on the network even though the printer is shared on the desktop pc. I unstalled the one and only printer on the notebook and tried to add another printer, now I can't see the printer on the network???? I browse for printers, I can see the Workgroup name, but no printer is showing attached to it?? I double click on the workgroup name, but I don't see my desktop computer underneath.

California · Jan 3, 2006

( if I unshared the printer on the notebook, I could not see the printer on the network )

What you see on the laptop is the 'network resource' representation of your laptop's local printer, which is a separate printer (in the logical sense) from the physically attached local printer.

The printer at the pc has to be defined as shared (on the pc), then the laptop needs to install the pc's shared printer, not the laptop's own shared printer, before the laptop can print to the pc's printer.

Donnyj · Jan 3, 2006

The printer at the pc has to be defined as shared (on the pc), then the laptop needs to install the pc's shared printer, not the laptop's own shared printer, before the laptop can print to the pc's printer.

I don't understand how to do that. I have the printer at the desktop shared. The hand underneath means it is shared? It is shared according to the desktop pc, but I still can't see it on the notebook. How do I install the printer on the notebook if I can't see it?

beagdog · Jan 3, 2006

Did you try searching for the PC from the laptop using the IP address in the search function? If you can see the printer there, you can add it to the laptop. You might try to install the printer using the USB cable to the laptop just to see if the printer will work from the laptop. It may need a specific driver that isn't on the laptop, and you can install it using the printer software when its hooked up directly. At least that way you'd know the printer will work on the laptop.

Donnyj · Jan 3, 2006

I had the printer installed on the laptop. It worked fine with the USB cable. I tried to add another printer and search for it on the network. As I said earlier the only way I could see the printer that is connected to desktop was to share the installed printer on the notebook. When I unshared it I could not see it. So I just deleted the printer on the notebook and tried to add the printer again. I can see the workgroup name, the name of the computer that has the printer installed to it, but I can not see the printer that is connected to the desktop pc. Does that make sense? Maybe I'm not explaining my problem correctly, if so please forgive me. I just dont know much about networking.

beagdog · Jan 3, 2006

Makes perfect sense, I just don't know what the problem is. If you can see the PC, when you click on the name of it, it should expand and show you any of the shared devices. The printer should show up then. If it doesn't show, you might try unsharing the printer, then resharing as a new share with all rights to any user that connects. If that doesn't work, I'm out of ideas. Sorry.

California · Jan 3, 2006

Ok, you're almost there. When you plug that printer into the laptop, and designate it as shared, it then appears as a network resource visible to both the desktop and the laptop. It should have a name that you assigned something like 'laptop's HP'.

Now plug it in to the desktop and use the desktop's My Printers to offer it as a shared network resource hosted by the desktop. Name that virtual printer 'desktop's HP'. That should make it visible as a network resource, visible by the laptop.

Each system should now see three virtual printers: 1)local, 2)their own local printer as a network resource, and 3)the printer attached to the other system represented as a network resource.

NSBound · Jan 3, 2006

I once recently thought I wanted to do this too, but reading all this has just turned my brain to mushhhhhhhhhh....... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Donnyj · Jan 3, 2006

No luck. As I said before I uninstalled the printer on the laptop. This time I did like you said and simply hooked the USB cable up. The notebook found the printer and installed the drivers. I shared the printer on the notebook and named it laptophp. I hooked the USB cable back up to the desktop and made sure it was still shared. I named it desktopshp. I only show one printer in my listings. When I tried to print from my laptop I get the same error message about trying to print to the USB port. Something I don't understand also is I can view the network on the laptop including the laptop itself on the network, but I can't view the network on the desktop pc. When I click on my computer and network places all I see is the wireless router. If I click on view network connections I see 1394 connection and local area connection. If I click on view workgroup computers the hour glass comes up for about 30 to 45 seconds and gives me a error message saying the xxxxhome is not accessible?? You might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the administrator of this server to find out if you have access permissions. The list of servers for this workgroup is not currently available. I can not access the laptop from my desktop. Sounds like I have missed something, not to mention the 40 plus hours of networking training I should of took /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I really appreciate everyones help. I hope I have not worn out my welcome just yet???

Donnyj · Jan 3, 2006

I got it!!! Guess what was causing the holdup??? How about Norton Firewall?? Linksys cust. support emailed me back and said to check with Microsoft, but he did suggest disabling any firewalls. I configured Norton firewall to allow the network and still stay on. Anyone know if that is the correct thing to do. I can now see the laptop and the laptop can see the desktop and printing from both machines is fine. One more question though, I know not another one /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Should I share the hard drives on both machines? Is that safe to do? Any disadvantages or advantages? I do want to thank all the very helpful members on here who helped me out. You guys did not give up on this. Thanks again. If I can ever help anyone out in the future don't hesitate to ask. Thanks again!!