Networking for a newbie

L

lonewolfette

New Member
I have two laptops, my printer is wired to one & I would like to access the printer through the other.

I've tried several steps in creating the network & sharing & none of them I've been able to figure out. I cannot get the computers to see each other.

I have a Vista Home Compaq C571NR notebook with the wired HP Deskjet 5100 series printer. The other is an XP Home HP Pavilion dv8225nr notebook. Both notebooks have the drivers for the printer (it had been previously connected to the HP before I bought the Vista).

If you can, assume I have no knowledge of a computer (most of the technical terms mean nothing to me anyway) & please walk me through, step-by-step, exactly what I need to do & if it's even possible.

I do have a wireless Westell 327W router & both are connected to the internet.

Thank you.
 
You'll need to run network setup wizard on XP machine:

start - control panel - network setup wizard.

This will guide you through setting up a network with file/print sharing.

On vista machine:

start - control panel - network and sharing centre under 'sharing and discovery' there should be a 'Printer sharing' option click the down arrow and select turn on printer sharing (you'll need to be Admin or know the Admin password)

if you need anymore help just post back

FB
 
Here's what I did step by step... received error message at end...


XP

Local Area Connection RealTek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC
*disconnected network hardware
-- clicked "ignore disconnected network hardware"
Should this be connected? If so, how? Does this mean I need a networking card/adapter?

"This computer connects to the Internet through a residential gateway (or through another computer) on my network."
I have a wireless router/modem that I connect with.

description: -entered description-

workgroup name: -entered name-

Turn on file & printer sharing. Windows Firewall will be configured to allow file & printer sharing on your network.

(network setup disk info saved to floppy)

(NEED TO RESTART THE COMPUTER)

Complete the wizard & restart this computer. Then, use the network setup disk to run the network setup wizard once on each of the other computers on your network.
1. Insert the network setup disk into the next computer you want to network.
2. Open My Computer & then open the network setup disk.
3. Double-click "netsetup."


___________________________________________________________________


VISTA

double-clicked netsetup file on floppy for network setup wizard (got same message about local area connection -- again clicked "ignore disconnected network hardware")

"This computer connects to the Internet through a residential gateway (or through another computer) on my network."
I have a wireless router/modem that I connect with.

"You have more than one connection on this computer. The wizard can "bridge these connections, so that other computers using them can communicate."
*Determine the appropriate connections for me (Recommended)

description: -entered description-

workgroup: -entered same name as above-

"An error occurred during configuration of the network on this computer. You can configure your network manually, or you can run the wizard again with different settings." clicking finish told me to restart... (I did not as I was working on something on the internet I didn't want to lose)...

I forgot to turn on Network Discovery & file & printer sharing. Just turned them on, am trying the wizard again... Same error, but it didn't tell me to restart.


Is it as simple as just restarting both computers, or is that disconnected Local Area Network gonna haunt me?

Did I even need to do what I did for the Vista, or was it just as simple as turning on the Network Discovery & Sharing options?

(I do know why I've been easily confused by all this ;) )
 
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The disconnected network hardware won't haunt you. I have no idea what some microsoft worker was smoking when they thought that pointing out that you DON'T have something plugged in was a good idea but nevermind!

I don't think you did need to run the setup wizard on Vista but it shouldn't make a difference.
If you've clicked to share the printer i don't see a reason why printing shouldn't work.
Have you tried printing anything?
 
Just tried it. The XP says the printer is offline. Both printer & Vista powered on, sharing is selected. I do have the password protection selected on the Vista share items, but I wouldn't think that should matter.

On the Vista, I right clicked the printer & selected sharing. The check box is checked for printing, then I went into the security tab & under "group or user names" "Everyone" is selected. My other two options are admin (I'm signed in as admin) or my log-on name. Would this make a difference? Under permissions, the only thing checked is print allow, nothing else is selected. I'm not sure if anything in the advanced button would help.

There has to be one small thing I'm missing...
 
I went searching out any tutorials (or anything) with XP & Vista & came across this:

On the Vista machine, go to the Networking and Sharing Center. Click on Manage Network Connections. Right click your wireless connection and click Properties. Click on Client for Microsoft Networks and click Properties. In mine the Name Service Provider was blank. Switch that to Windows Locator and click ok.
Click to expand...

Before I did this, the Vista could see the XP, but the XP wouldn't respond to the Ping & couldn't see the Vista. The Vista now can't see the XP either, but considering that seeing it was the only thing that was working, it really doesn't matter.

Also, on the XP, I went into the Add Printer wizard, selected Network Printer, then...
1. Browse for Printer didn't bring up anything
2. Connect to this Printer I typed in \\VistaName\Printers\printer name & received a login name & password box... then received a response that the address/name was typed incorrectly
3. Connect to Printer on Internet or Network I have no idea what the http:// address would be

Could my inability to figure out what the actual address of the printer be my major problem? I must've done atleast some small thing right to get the login box... maybe.
 
Just a few more settings:

My antivirus is AVG only on the Vista (Windows Firewall is active). Symantec is installed but not running as I let the trial run out.

The XP is running AVG & Norton (until it runs out as well as Windows Firewall).

I've heard of others having to shut off their Firewall (which I'd prefer to not do).
 
Ok I think we need to go to the basics here...

Your computers I hope are connected...
How? Through a wireless router? Are you in the same workgroup? Do both computers have access to the internet at the same time?
 
Both computers are wireless, & both use the same modem/router to connect to the internet simultaneously. I set up both in the workgroup "MSHOME" (because that's what was already in there).
 
Norton can do that. The sooner everyone realizes that Norton and McAfee are garbage, the better off we'll all be.

Remove the Norton, then try again. Run the Norton uninstaller on both machines.
 
On the XP machine,open run, then type in the name of the Vista computer e.g. \\Example. a folder should pop up with SharedDocs and the printer in it. Click on the printer, and install the drivers(if necessary).
Let me know how it works.
 
weaponsguy007, thank you! I just printed my test page & it worked perfectly.

I installed the LLTD on the XP & now the Vista can map it, but I can't seem to get the Vista to Ping the XP, but the XP just Pinged the Vista perfectly with the printer.

And the run > \\Example won't work on the Vista.
 
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I'm telling you, remove the Norton and try it. I had a client a while back with the exact same issue and that's what it was.
 
Well, I made a breakthrough. I wasn't able to do much more than Ping the XP... but I DID figure out how to use the Remote Desktop option, which is more preferable seeing as I'm the only person using the laptops.

Thank you to everyone for your help & suggestions.

And, yes, I am removing Norton. ;)
 
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