network printer help

hello i am going to try and explain this the best that I can.

we have a desktop PC with windows XP
we have an HP printer hooked up to it
we have a wireless router so that I can use the internet while on my laptop

ok now heres what I am trying to do:

I want be able to access that printer through my laptop.

We have 2 laptops and when I go to network connections on my laptop I can do file sharing with the other laptop since we are connected to the same network but I cant find The desktop PC in the network.

Is there something that I need to do on the desktop PC? I enable printer sharing and all that stuff but Im just not sure why I cant find the desktop PC in my network through my laptop. I can find see the other laptop we have in the network and was able to get it all worked out so my girlfriend can access all my downloads so she can watch my movies right from her laptop.

Im just confused. I know we are on a wireless so does that make us a seperate network than the computer that is not on a wireless? Is there anthing I can do?

I just want to be able to print a picture, document, or whatever right from my laptop while being on my wireless. I am now thinking that maybe I should download the printer software on my laptop and plug the printer to the laptop and just print it that way. I mean, all I have to do is get off my lazy ass, walk in the other room, disconect the printer, plug it into my laptop, and then print. haha.. I guess that will be my final option but I would like to just access the printer somehow through my wireless and do it that way.

Any help would be much appreciated. In the meantime I will keep trying to figure this out. Hopefully it is possible. Thanks alot everyone.

First thing to do is make sure that the PC is on the same WORKGROUP. You can do this (on XP), by going to:

Start > Right Click "My Computer" > Properties > "Computer Name" tab > Change

In that box, set the workgroup to "WORKGROUP" - then click ok, and ok again. That should close all boxes, if not keep clicking OK (having to remember because I have vista ). Do that on all your PC's and restart afterwards on each one.

Now you should be able to see all pc's on each pc (only when they're turned on though). Go to control panel > printers (or something like that) and then right click your printer and choose share. Fill in the box that comes up, and select the install drivers option.

On your laptops, go to the workgroup folder (the place where you see all the other pcs). Double click on the desktop pc, and then its printer. It should install a driver. If not, right click it and choose install.

Restart all pcs once more and that should be it.

thanks but that doesnt really help. I still cant see the computer in the network :-(

Did you set them all to workgroup? If so, then go to control panel and then network and internet.

Find the options to enable file and printer sharing on each pc, and then try again. I don't have XP so I can't go in to much more detail than this, sorry.

Hope that does something though It should be around there anyway.

thanks but I already did all that. It just seems my laptop can only detect the other laptop using our wireless router in the network. I can not see the desktop PC. Also the desktop PC doesnt show anything in the network at all. Im getting irratated over here arrrhhhh!! Both laptops are set to "work group" and the Desktop PC is as well. Im just not sure why I cannot see the deskop in the network. I been playing around with the desktop PC because I think that is where the problem is. Is there something else that I need to configure? Is it possible that this can not even be done? I am on a wireless network and the desktop is not on the wireless network because it is plugged directly with the ethernet cable. maybe that is why? I dont know, but all I do know is that I cannot detect the desktop Pc in the network from my laptop. Im about to just give up.

I would suggest updating all of your pcs to at least windows xp service pack 2 (or 3) if you haven't done so already. If you do that, then check in control panel, and then security. Make sure file sharing and printers are unblocked on the firewall.

If that doesn't work try running the network wizard. Other than that, I don't have anything. Sorry.

thanks for the reply. The 2 laptops are vista and the desktop is xp. Yeah I dont know whats going on. Im not super smart on computers but I know a thing or two about them. It seems like this shouldnt be that hard of a task but for some reason it has left me stumped. I really dont know a whole lot about networks. I think I need to do some reading and resaerch and playing around in the computer for awhile to get more familiar with networks. I never really set one up before. Since both laptops are on the wireless im thinking they automatically detect eachother so I am able to do file share and access devices like printers and stuff. I did however have to mess with some settings on the laptops to set some things up for them to be able to access files on eachother. When I go onto the desktop computer I am assuming that it as well (like the laptops) would be able to detect the other computers through the network and sharing area. I dont know im just a rookie with this stuff. I'll do some reading, research, and playing around and eventually I'll figure out what I'm doing wrong. This is probably the best way to learn anyways. Even though I couldnt get this working I really appreciate you taking the time to try and help me.

Have a good day

Bryan

you can also get a print server which costs around 50 usd but saves lot of electricity as you dont need to keep your PC on anymore .. and anyone can print anytime.... suggested one be from planex... www.planex.net

Or you can buy a printer like the one I am linking to. It has a built it wireless adapter and would work very well with your wireless network.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16828115146&Tpk=hp j6480


I have this printer and I love it!

I thought they were all running XP. Vista laptops probably explain why there is some issues. When I did this with an old home server, it took me days to make it work (and I think it was a fluke anyway).