Need to establish file/printer sharing on a home office (already have internet share)

[baxtej44]

Main computer: hardwired to the internet, also has wireless router. This is running Windows Vista

Two laptops: running XP, can already connect via wireless to the internet



I need to share a printer that is hooked up to one of the laptops with the other two computers, and also need to share a printer that is hooked up to the main computer.

 

[mjonesjr]

Works the same way with Vista.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_july2.mspx

 

[baxtej44]

okay, printer is hooked up to the main computer.


i went control panel > printers > "Share this printer"

then on the computer i'm currently on, i tried to find the printer under "add a printer connected to another computer", but i can't find it anywhere in the network list and such.

 

[Legend]

okay, printer is hooked up to the main computer.


i went control panel > printers > "Share this printer"

then on the computer i'm currently on, i tried to find the printer under "add a printer connected to another computer", but i can't find it anywhere in the network list and such.

On that computer, right-click on Start, choose explore. click on my network places, click on entire network, click on Microsoft Windows Network. You should see one (1) network - whatever you have named your network. click on that network and you should see all the devices connected to that network, including the "main computer" attached to the printer. if you click on that computer, you should see the shared printer.

if you don't see both the main computer and the computer you are on, perhaps the two computers have named the network differently? to check this, follow this same procedure on the main computer and see if the network name is the same on both computers - it must be, to share resources and you said you are sharing internet connection of main computer? so this shouldn't be a problem.

if you do see both the main computer and the one you are on, then it may be a browsing issue in the printer install program. to get around this try putting in a specific address, such as: \\<the exact name of the main computer (as shown in explorer)>\<the exact name of the printer (as shown in explorer)>

file and printer sharing must be in the network properties of both computers. to check this, right-click on my network, choose Properties, right-click on on the network and confirm that Microsoft file and printer sharing is enabled. if it isn't there, click on Install button, highlight Service and click on Add, highlight Microsoft file and printer sharing and OK your way back out (XP CD may be required).

there are plenty of other possibilities, but 1 of these 3 seems most likely, IMHO. at least a place to start

 

[mjonesjr]

ALL PC's on a network need to have the SAME workgroup before you will be able to see the other PC.

 

[baxtej44]

ALL PC's on a network need to have the SAME workgroup before you will be able to see the other PC.

how do i do that?

 

[Jspafford]

how do i do that?

Right click My Computer>Properties

You can change it in there, then restart.

I usually find my shared printers with the IP address.

Go to the PC you have the printer shared on, Click Start>Run Type CMD and hit enter.

Now type in ipconfig/all

Look for your computer's IP address.... By default it will probably be something like 192.168.***.***

Now go to both the other machines and Start>Run

Type in the Run box \\ipaddress then hit enter.

Should bring up a window with the printer being listed, right click the printer icon and choose connect/install.

 

[baxtej44]

okay! we are making progress!

i put them on the same workgroup "BAXTER".


I can see the laptop from the main computer, and can see the main computer from the laptop.

When I double click on "MOM" (the main computer's name) it asks for a username and password for access. She does not have a password on her account, so idk where to get this password. However, I can access the laptop "JARED" (the laptop) from the main computer with no password.

 

[Jaymz9350]

I think there are other ways but the easiest I found for doing the XP and Vista networking was to have matching username/passwords (not blank) on both pc's or i'd get the same thing you got. Something in vista is what causes it which is why you can acess the xp machines with no problem.

 

[baxtej44]

I think there are other ways but the easiest I found for doing the XP and Vista networking was to have matching username/passwords (not blank) on both pc's or i'd get the same thing you got. Something in vista is what causes it which is why you can acess the xp machines with no problem.

well it's my mom's account so i'm not really sure she will let me put a password on there lol.... there's gotta be a way around it...

 

[baxtej44]

bump..? anyway to printer share with a vista without an account password?

 

[Jspafford]

bump..? anyway to printer share with a vista without an account password?

You don't need a password, you only need to have a user account on the other computer with the same name as the one sharing the printer.

IE: If her computer's name is "betty" you need to only create a user account on the other machine named "betty"

I don't know why, but it worked for me.

 

[baxtej44]

You don't need a password, you only need to have a user account on the other computer with the same name as the one sharing the printer.

IE: If her computer's name is "betty" you need to only create a user account on the other machine named "betty"

I don't know why, but it worked for me.

okay great i will try that.