Print Sharing Through XP Firewall

I have a wireless Dell router (connected to cabel modem) connected to my desktop and am trying to share my HP2550L printer which is connected to the desktop with two remote laptops. I have configured the computers to share the printer and with the firewall off, no problem, I can print from all three. However, when I turn the firewall on, I can't print remotely from the two laptops. I have gone in to control panel (firewall) and set it up to allow "file and print" sharing but am still having this problem. Any suggestions?

 

what is the 'scope' on the allow u setup?? define 'remote laptops'. are they on the same local network is what i mean.

if the machines are on the same subnet then a scope of 'subnet' should work. if not, u'll have to define the IP setup on all devices involved here. or could define the scope as 'any' ... a bit dangerous here tho.

 

They are on the same wireless network and there is no problem with the remote laptops accessing the internet through my wireless network. Only problem is printing when the firewall is "on ".

 

Hello Brooks,

Did you look in the advanced tab of Windows Firewall - ICMP settings, specifically "Allow incoming router request" setting? See if checked.

Regards - Charles

 

in the WF exceptions tab, double click the sharing exception for file/print and advise what 'scope' is set to.

what are the IP assignments on each device?

what make/model router and what make/model wireless nics? if the router has any wireless 'isolation' options, turn em off.

 

Sure enough I changed the scope on the WF exceptions tab to "any computer" and it now prints from my remote laptops. I guess the preferred option would be to specifically list IP addresses of the remote laptops and the router in the "custom" block, right? I am not up on how to locate IP addresses on these devices. Can someone provide me some info in this regard? Thanks for all the help.

 

For any NT system (NT4/2K/XP/2K3) do start -> run -> cmd to open a cmd window then
ipconfig and press ENTER.

For 9X/ME, start -> run -> winipcfg and click OK.

 

Thanks Newt, with the info you provided I was able to determine IP addresses of both laptops and custom set the scope on the firewall exceptions. Now with the fire wall on, they print to the network printer. Appreciate everyone's help!!!

 

Good news and glad to hear it.