Sharing a Printer on a network

[the_Journeyman]

Ok, guys, I've got a 4-year degree in Computer Information Systems and I'm STILL having problems sharing a stupid printer...

Machine #1 - Windows Vista (HP Desktop), all sharing options turned ON like Microsoft said they needed to be in their knowledge base.  it is connected to the router via ethernet.  This is also the computer with the Canon iP3600 printer connected via USB.  It is also set up as a network/shared printer. 

Machine #2 - Windows XP (Dell Laptop), not sure of service pack status.  Id DOES have the network protocol installed that allows Vista to discover it properly and put it in the network map.  It is connected to the router via wireless.  Sharing is turned on, and a folder is shared.

Machine #3 - Windows 7 Starter (Gateway Netbook), also connected to router via wireless. Sharing options are turned on too, just like the Vista machine.

All are under the same workgroup for simplicity.  All can access the internet via the router without problems.

Any help?  Thanks,

JM

[derby]

start > run > <ip address of machine with printer shared> [enter]

[the_Journeyman]

Got "can't find xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx"

JM

[derby]

Got "can't find xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx"

JM

disable the local firewall on the machine with the printer and see if it works...

[the_Journeyman]

Update - I can see all computers on the Windows 7 & Vista machine, as well as the rest of the network. (Router showing the XP & 7 machine, then a switch between my machine and the wireless router, even though it's one device).

XP machine can't see anything but itself ~

JM

[the_Journeyman]

Disabled firewall, same error message ~


JM

[the_Journeyman]

UPDATE - Vista can see the laptop and netbook.  It can access the XP laptop, but not the netbook.

Netbook can map all three, but only shows the Vista machine under the network window.  It can't access the Vista machine though.

XP can see itself and the netbook, but not the Vista machine.

Neither the laptop or the netbook will find the printer.  Firewall is still off.

JM

[derby]

some light reading:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx

Computers Running Windows XP Do Not Appear in the Network Map

If a computer that is running Windows XP and does not appear in the Network Map window, download and install an update on the computer running Windows XP from Network Map Does Not Display Computers Running Windows XP. This update installs a Link-Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) Responder component, which responds to computers running Windows Vista when they are building the Network Map.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc749119%28WS.10%29.aspx

To install the LLTD Responder onto a computer running Windows XP

   1. Download the update appropriate for your version of Windows:

          * If you are running Windows XP with no service pack, with Service Pack 1 (SP1), or with SP2, download the update from here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=70582.

          * If you are running Windows XP with SP3, download the update from here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=156601.

[the_Journeyman]

I've done that, and the XP machine does appear on the Vista's network map.  I need the XP to see the Vista computer now ~

JM

[JEFF_H]

I'd drop $40 on an external print server and save the trouble....

[MendoDave]

I'd drop $40 on an external print server and save the trouble....

+1 Or just get a network ready printer and plug it in to the router with ethernet.

[ducpainter]

I'd drop $40 on an external print server and save the trouble....

I'd get rid of Vista and 7 and just run XP.

[mitt]

I'd get rid of Vista and 7 and just run XP.

I would do the exact opposite




mitt

[the_Journeyman]

Backstory on the router:

Bought & set up by the last guy my wife dated, turns out he was a cheater.  He set it up, my now wife didn't know anything about the setup or what he did.  The username & password she initially used on the router no longer works.

Fast forward to now:

I can access ANY computer set up to share that shows up via wireless.  I can do anything the computer is set to allow, printing, read/edit files whatever the setup is.  All other computers see the switch built into the router, but not my computer that is hard lined to the router and thus behind the switch.  The conspiracy theorist in my wife and I say he set some kind of security protocol into the router setup so she couldn't easy see his computer to help him hide his actions.

JM

[Raux]

go to start menu of the computer with the printer
command prompt
type in "ipconfig"

find the IP address

on the other computers
add a network printer
use the network ip address you now have

might need the driver disk on the other computers when installing