Re: Connecting a Vista laptop to remote printer

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RayS wrote:
I have an HP Photosmart C6180 connected via USB to an XP desktop computer. I have other XP laptops set up so they can print to this printer throught their wireless connection. However I now have a new Vista laptop and I can't get it configured for this printer through it's wireless connection. Here is what I've tried:



1. Go into Control panel/printers on the Vista Laptop and select Add New printer. I select Network printer and It finds the printer. I then select HP as the manufacturer and it list lots of their printers but not this one. I assume the driver was just not included with Vista. This also has a "have disk" option but my disk is only for XP and before.



2. I went to HP's site and downloaded the latest complete Vista driver (159 meg). I then ran the software install and when it asks for whether it is a local or network printer, I pick network. But the driver software can't find any network printers even thought Vista could in 1 above.



3. I went to HP's site and downloaded the latest complete Vista driver (159 meg) only this time I saved it instead or running it. Then from the Vista Laptop and selected Add New printer. I select Network printer and It finds the printer. This also has a "have disk" option so I point it to the saved download file but it won't accept it. Apparently this is because the downloaded file is an exe and the software at that point is looking for in .inf file.



So how can I get this to work?


After downloading the software, you did make sure that the printer was NOT connected or turned on, right? This is the recommended procedure from HP. Install the driver on your laptop, and when it's done connect and turn on the printer and "new hardware discovery" should take place. The wiz should then take you through setting up the printer sharing.

Dave T.
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