Sharing Printer Trouble...

I recently purchase a Netgear WGR614 router as well as two PC cards (one for my slightly old Windows ME desktop, and another for my brand new Windows XP notebook). I have had my desktop for awhile, but immedietely after receiving my notebook, I was interested in setting up a wireless home network. The two main things I wish to get out of this are: 1. sharing internet (duh ) and to be able to share the printer that is currently connected to my desktop, with my notebook. After some rather long hours on the phone, and trouble with the PC card (desktop) I was able to set up the basic network. Both computers receive internet wirelessly from the router, and evreything appears to be working well. However, I have tried to talk to the Netgear Customer Support, several internet forums, and countless network guides, and can't seem to make my printer "share-able ". I have gone into "printers" under control panel on my desktop and set the printer to be shared, and I have gone to "add a printer" on my notebook, but no matter what I do (believe me I've tried about 12 ways) it won't recognize a printer that can be shared. I don't believe I need to purchase any type of printer server or anything, but nothing that I try seems to work. I appreciate any help. Thank you!!

 

Ramfn125,

If any of the computers have the Windows Firewall enabled, make sure it is properly configured for file and printer sharing. With Windows Firewall enabled, go to the Exception tab, and click to check the File and Printer Sharing checkbox. If you've installed a third party firewall program (Norton, McAfee, PC-cillin, eTrust, ZoneAlarm, etc), make sure that it's configured to allow access on the local area network.

Since you have the printer shared on the Windows Me computer. Then on the other computer, use the Add Printer Wizard and tell it to add a Network Printer. Browse for the Printer. This usually does it but not all printers are the same. It depends on the make and model of the printer you have.

If it makes it any easier run the Network Setup Wizard on both computers and make the workgroups the same. Tell it to connect through a residential gateway (router).

 

Almost there...

Thanks for everything you said earlier, I was able to follow those steps to configure the windows firewall (only my McAfee firewall was configured), and I went to "add printer ", browsed, and was able to locate my HP printer. I clicked on it, but I cannot connect to it because I don't know the "Printer name ". How do I figure out the name of the printer? I'm assuming I must go onto the Windows ME (printer-connected PC) to get it, but I dont know where to look. If you could tell me how, I should be able to do the rest. Thanks again for all your help!

 

Ramfn125

What type of Printer do you have.

Network ( plugs into the Router )

USB

Parallel.

If it is plugged into the Router you do not need to SHARE it. But you do need to install the drivers on EACH machine.

I ran into the same SHARING problems when I had only a USB printer. I now have a Network Printer plugged into the Router. It has its own private IP address. I leave it on and any one of the 3 machines can use it at anytime regardless.

But again. The Drivers need to be installed on each machine.

With a SHARED printer the Host machine MUST be on at all times in order for others to use.

Sharing is nice ( sometimes ) but I have other names for it which I can't print. With sharing if the Host goes South everybody goes with it.

BillyBob