Networked printer

Computer No. 1 is a Windows XP SPII computer with an attached Lexmark 600 printer. This computer is networked thru a D-Link switch to a Cable modem.

Computer No. 2 is a Windows 98 SE computer. This computer is also networked through the same switch.

I want to use the printer on the XP machine from the 98 machine. When I use "add a printer" the 98 can see the Lexmark Printer but after adding the printer as a networked printer and rebooting a click on the printer and select properties and the "print test page" reports unable to communicate with the printer.

The 98 and the Xp can see each other. They are setup with Print and File sharing.

Thanks for any help

ENGCON

 

Have you marked the printer as shared over on the XP system? Control Panel>Printers and Faxes, right click on the printer, left click on Sharing.

I realize this is basic but sometimes overlooked by even advanced users...the XP system must be running in order to access a printer connected to it.

 

If it is a true Network printer ( using a Cat5 cable ) it should not need to be shared.

It should install as a separate printer on each machine.

I have a XP Pro machine and 2 98SE machines using the printer.

Mine may be different but I have and HP printer plugged into a four port switch which is in turn plugged into a Router.

My Printer, Switch, Router are constantly powered. No one machine needs to be on. The printer is not shared.

It is individually installed on each machine.

BillyBob

 

The sharing is set up for the printer on the XP.
The printer is installed on the XP machine not on the network.
Thanks for those suggestions but they don't resolve the problem.
Thanks
ENGCON

 

Firewall?

DRD

 

Running Zone Alarm on XP only.

Will check to see if it's blocking the 98. Don't think it is.

ENGCON

 

OK. I do now see the problem.

I had an HP 5550 printer setup on this XP pro machine. FORGET SHARING. And of course nobody colud use it if this machine were down anyway.

I got a 5850 and plugged it into the Router ( which I believe you do no have ) with a Cat5 cable. ALL Problems solved, It is actually installed on the other two 98SE machine as an individual printer for each one.

But it still only has one IP address which is asigned by the Router.

Alias: It is NOT shared.

This is why I have to leave the Printer. The Router. And the Switch powered at all times. But the Router and Switch were anyway so the others could get to the Internet any time they so choose.

BillyBob

 

Alot of the time on 98 machines the print drivers must be installed "locally" first (even though no printer is attached). Once you have installed the 98 drivers (on the 98 machine) "locally" for the printer you are using on the XP machine , choose "add a printer" (still on the 98 machine) again and this time choose networked, and choose the printer on the XP machine. Once this is done you should be able to print to XP printer, make sure that printer on XP, is designated "default ", you can then delete the local printer once done. If it still doesn't print you may have to add the 98 drivers to the XP machine, by going to the printers properties, "additional drivers ".

 

Good morning TJ-IT

What you write is quite true. But in my case the 5550 was aready shared by three Win98 machine before I upgraded this one to XP. The only real problem was I would forget and shut this machine down.

If I did shut this machine down, once I restarted the printer would no longer share properly until the other machines were shutdown and restarted. I never did figure that one out.

But for me I already had Cable Internet, the Router and a 4 port switch so all I needed was the Printer.

I myself can not honestly answer this but I believe even though the Internet is not Cable or DSL A Router would still work nicely even if for just for the Local Area Network.

I know it has proven to be a GREAT help in that area for me. No machine depends on the other for anything. And nothing needs to be shared. However I may set a drive on this machine to be shared if I want to transfer anything to another machine. But if that is done then it is un-shared as soon as the transfer is done. ( I found some KIDS getting NOSEY when they found the shared drive once when I forgot to unshare it. )

But I do know for sure that the Router makes game playing between the machines a LOT easier. Of course you do need the game software on all machines. But for me that was fairly simple because each machine was setup using a copy of the HD from the previous machine.

BillyBob

 

TJ-IT has a good point. On the Xp machine, go into the Control Panel\Printers & Faxes, select your printer by right clicking on it and select Sharing. In the new window, click on the Sharing tab. Click on the Additional Drivers tab, and check the box for Win98. This allow the 98 machine to get the drivers needed for the printer from the XP machine.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions.
I solved the problem by moving the printer to the 98 machine and the XP could attach to it with no problem.

ENGCON

 

Good work engconp/b]

BillyBob