ritz crackers, XP, and networks

It's a miracle! I have tried for years to figure out home networking. YEARS is not lie. I tried again and it worked first time. What's the chances? Now there is one last computer that is giving me fits. Three out of the four isn't too bad. The problem is the fourth computer is the one with the printer and the other three are jealous. Where would one begin to trouble shoot? I ran the home networking wizard. Firewalls perhaps? Administrator stuff? Could the ritz cracker in my 3.5 floppy from a little helper be the problem?

 

You could start with operating system(s), the type of physical connection the computers have to each other, whether you are able to ping the non-responding computer from the others (command prompt or start > run > cmd, then "ping [enter computer name here] ").

First of all though, check that you have file and printer sharing installed and enabled on your PCs (Network Connections > Properties of the relevant connection).

 

Well done ...3 out of 4 is a good start.

A couple of questions so we can build a better picture

Are you using a router or a hub/switch?

Did you assign network address's to the pc's?

Cheers

 

why did the chicken cross the road?

I am using a (drum roll please...) whateveryoucallit Now that I have wowed you with my geniusness do I check printer sharing on all the computers or just the miscreant that is withholding printer privledges? I did not assign addresses. I figured the wizard took care of all that techy stuff. Especially since three can talk to each other. Just an aside the three that can talk to each other all have the printer icon in the network places folder that one would right click on and add a printer with. Does that mean that printer sharing is on? I played ping pong with the miscreant computer and the response was 4 pings sent but nada no way 100% loss.

 

I do not know about Wireless and a Gateway as I have a Router. I used to have a Printer hooked to this machine and shared by two others. If this
machine was not on the printer was not available.

I had all kinds of problems so I got a Printer ( HP5850 ) that plugs right into the Router and is installed separately on each machine and no longer depends on just one machine and sharing.

BillyBob

 

I know even less than you do about networking. I'll give my only shot. Did you install the printer software on all computers? I understand this must be done for printer sharing.

Very funny the little helper and the Ritz cracker.

 

Yes. The Printer software is installed on each machine. Two 98SE and one XP Pro. But again. It does require a certain model Printer such as the HP5850.

When I installed the softare to each machine I made sure the other two were shut down. That way there could be no confusion.
But one thing that must be made clear here. My Printer cable plugs directly into the Router ( not a machine ) with a Cat5 cable. And along with the Modem and Router it gets left on at all times. ( if I do not forget anyway )

BillyBob

PS
It has been so lnog since I used a shared Printer that I have forgotten about installing drivers for more than one machine.

BB

 

Hello BillyBob,

Could I ask you to state what the problem is?

. You cannot ping?
. You cannot see yourself and others in Network Neighborhood?
. You cannot share anything?
. You cannot access another workstations shares?
. You get error messages with error numbers and error test?

You say the printer is connected to the router. Then earlier you say the printer is connected to a workstation.

I can quickly fix your problem I believe, if I knew after reading all the above what it was.

.

 

Misskelly: Networking is a matter of telling each computer to share and where to find the other computers. In this case, you're telling one to share its printer and then telling the others where to find the printer.

First, make sure File and Printer Sharing is enabled: Control Panel>Network Connections, right click on the connection you're using (probably Local Area Connection but might be named something else), left click on Properties. If File and Printer Sharing is not checked, check it, click OK.

Second, make sure the printer is marked as shared: On the computer to which the printer is connected: Control Panel>Printers, right click on the printer, left click Properties, go to the Sharing tab. Check "Share this printer" and give it a name. You can name it anything you like, just keep it simple, preferably one word because you're going to be typing it at least three more times.

Third, with the computer to which the printer is connected running and the printer itself turned on (so the wizard can find it), go to the other computers one at a time: Control Panel>Printers>click on Add a Printer in the left-hand pane, step through the "Add a printer" wizard, checking "A network printer or a printer attached to another computer. "

In the next window, check "Connect to this printer..." and in the box below that type: \\nameOfComputer\nameOfPrinter, where "name of computer" is the name of the computer to which the printer is connected and "name of printer" is the name you gave the printer when you marked it as shared. Note that those are back slashes, found on the key on the right-hand side of the keyboard above the Enter key and there are no spaces.

Finish stepping through the wizard and the printer should then be recognized by all four computers.

 

I have no problems. At least not since I took the SHARED PRINTER ( which required this PC to be on ) off and installed one that plugs into the Router.

I may be thinking differently but I do not consider my printer as being shared. It is cabled into the Router with a Cat5 cable. I consider it as being a stand-alone printer installed on each machine and does not require one certain machine to be powered up.

Yes. That is Sharing. But I do not have my printer set up that way. It is individual to each machine. Thanks to HP Model 5850 and my LAN.

BillyBob