Windows Vista Print sharing In Vista

print share with vista

That's what I have already done.....still won't work. Says that I need a file but the laptop is new, should not be missing any files.

 

My inlaws had the same problem getting the Vista computer to recognize the network printer. I finally turned off the firewall on the Bitdefender anti virus protection and then the printer was recognized.

 

Just curious: Which HP Photosmart do you have?

 

I have the C4400. It has locked up when I go to print from time to time. The quickest fix that I have found is to unplug the power supply to the printer, then plug it back in and it seems to work but it is still disappointing to have to do that.

 

To install the HP drivers you have to turn off (disable) the Firewall (&/or your Anti-Virus program ... I don't remember which). The directions that come up during the set-up process specifically tell you which, and that if you don't it won't install properly.

I have a 4100 series on my Vista computer (recently installed) and a 3300 series that connects directly to my home network via WI-FI. Except for occassionaly having to re-install the 3300 drivers (which I suspect had something to do with XP and Vista updates causing issues with the HP drivers) I've had no problems.

Download the latest drivers from your computer manufacturers web site (if available). My Vista happens to be an HP and as the driver install disk for Windows was missing I had no choice but all went smoothly. I just have to remember to select which printer I'm trying to print on...

 

Three quick questions for both of you:

1 - You have updated your computers, right??? Nothing I, nor anybody else can tell you to do, will help if Windows isn't fully updated.

2 - Can you access the shared folder on the other computer? It's one thing to have it access the internet and have them both listed in the same network, but if the firewall settings won't let you access the shared folder on the other computer, then we're looking for the wrong solution.

3 - Are these new printers, or are they new-to-you printers?

If it's a new-to-you printer and you didn't get the instruction book and the big, colorful instruction sheet... THAT could be the issue (or at least part of it). You probably just tried to install the printer incorrectly.

Usually HP printers have you start the install process BEFORE you connect the printer. You don't plug it into the computer until the setup program tells you to.

In the case of network printers (which is the case that both of you are trying to do) during the setup process to setup the software and printer (English translation: during the question and answer session when you first run the setup program, before the program takes over to install the software and drivers) one of the questions will ask you where the printer is located. Normally it is connected to the computer you're installing the software onto, but in your cases you both need to answer that it is on a networked computer. Miss that one, and it isn't going to find the printer.

(I'd give you the exact wording except I don't need to install a printer right now...)

I'd also make sure that the computer that the printer is connected to is on but that printer is off before running the setup program. If (when) it wants the printer turned on, it will tell you.

My advice (for what it's worth): Uninstall the printer from the computer (NOT the computer that the printer is connected too!!!), run your cleaning program(s) (CCleaner, ATF-Cleaner, SpyBot, etc.) then shut down the computer, count to 10, and then turn it back on. Run your cleaners again. Shut down the computer. Count to 10 again, then turn it back on.

Then try and install the software. Check out the computers web site for an updated printer setup for your computer first, but if nothing is there check HP for the correct setup program for your printer for your version of Vista. There is a difference in drivers for 32- and 64-bit versions of Vista, and just because you may have a 64-bit processor doesn't mean you are running the 64-bit version of Vista (my Vista computer has a 64-bit dual core processor, but my version of Vista is the 32-bit version).

And make sure you read what the setup program is telling you and asking you.

Hopefully, updated Vista, the newest HP installation program, and following the install instructions exactly, will get these printers working.

 

If I remember correctly, I had to shut down the firewall on both the computer that was directly connected to the printer and the wireless computer. Initially it did not work since I had it timed to activate the firewall in too short of a time frame so I turned it off all together on both computers. I only assume that is what fixed the issue unless I unknowingly did something else. Good luck. I know it was very frustrating for me when I was dealing with that issue.

 

print share in vista

Thank you Arie and everyone else. The window that came up for the file was:
File neededrinter driver INF for hp photosmart 7900 series.
The file ".INF on (unknown) Is needed.
Type the path where the file is located and then click ok.
Copy files from:
I have no idea how to look for that. I always do updates. I did turn my antiviris off to download the regular driver for windows vista 64 prem. The print share In the network and share files cannot be "on" because the printer has not been installed yet.Never had this much trouble before. Also went into firewall and print share is checked to allow it. I went excatley by the "to add a printer In vista" and still no luck. Its got to be something very simple because I have already done everything imaginable.
Thank you everyone....hope someone can make sence out of this.

 

The INF file instructs Windows how to run the hardware. If you ran the Vista driver download from HP, it may have only decompressed the driver files, but not installed them until you run the driver installation. Go back to where you downloaded the Vista drivers (on the HP website) look at (hover your cursor over) the name of the file, it should be a link. If you click on the name/link, it will tell you the installation instructions for the drivers.

Find the installation instructions for the Vista printer driver. You may have "opened" the driver files, but not installed them.

Matt

 

Have you tried shutting off or disabling both firewalls? (The firewall on the computer hard-wired to the printer and the firewall on the laptop?) If that did not work, I really do not know what else to try. Good luck to you.

 

Total agreement Matt, however I suspect the poster tried to run rather than save. One could try to locate the original download in temp files but with in this particular case it would be much easier to just D/L again due to communication problems. Also of note, there are 3 different models of this 7900 series printer and while one might assume all drivers are the same, who knows without first verifying. Once extracted, the missing driver can be installed manually or by trying to print and then navigating to the file at the error prompt.

Good Luck.

 

print share in vista

when I printed my test page from my tower pc that gives me the correct name of the printer which is hp photosmart 7900 series. The driver is 64.33. I tried to download that but it didn't show up. I believe the first choice under the three choices for the hp driver download was the right one. the problem is it is only a download only....not an install. I did try the other two driver downloads too and I get the same window....correct driver not installed. Believe me, I have tried everything. I will try to manually install this download...is that possible? I believe vista dose not support some of the things needed to Install this product.

 

From HP:

I just went and searched around HP and it appears that they aren't / can't make that printer work with Vista. I don't know why the "generic" driver doesn't have the file it says is needed. Meanwhile, looking around other sites, no one seems to have found a way to make this printer work with Vista.

So... Here is MY work-around: transfer anything you want to print from the Vista computer to your XP computer, then print from the XP machine.

Sorry there doesn't appear to be a better solution.

 

print share with vista

yes...read that is does not support everything needed to share the printer....that's what was so frustrating!!!! I knew I was putting everything In the right order, etc....too bad! That was a handy feature.Thanks to all of you for your support and help!
Snookie