Re: New Printer problem--Help please!

Thanks so much for your suggestions, Lem. I'll try to answer your ideas in
the order they were presented.

1. Yes, we were able to share the previous printer.
2. When I try to use the Add Printer Wizard to add the printer on the
laptop by choosing "Browse for Printer", the workgroup shows up but only the
laptop is shown on the workgroup. Since the printer is attached to the
desktop, the printer does not appear.
3. When I try to add the printer by using the Add printer wizard, then
choosing network printer, then choose "connect to this printer" (instead of
Browse for Printer as in #2 above) using \\desktopname\printername, I get
this message: Windows cannot connect to the printer. Either the printer name
was typed incorrectly or the specified printer has lost its connection to the
server. For more information, click Help"
4. Clarification on the connection: We have a cable modem, which is
connected to a Linksys wireless router, which is then connected to both the
desktop and the laptop PC. The laptop uses a wireless connection, although it
can also use a wired connection. I have tried both the wired and wireless and
it makes no difference -- still cannot see the printer.

One other thing: I ran ipconfig /all on both the desktop and the laptop. The
laptop shows DHCP enabled= yes. The desktop shows DHCP enabled = no. Is that
a problem and if so how do I fix it? (Sorry for the basic questions; as I'm
sure you can tell, I'm not much of a techie.)

Thanks again for the help!
--
Jo


"Lem" wrote:

JO wrote:
My husband and I have a small network. He has a Sony Vaio desktop running XP
Professional Edition, with a connection to the internet and printer. We use a
Linksys wireless-b router. I have a Dell Inspiron with a wireless connection.
We connect to the internet through the desktop. We set up a workgroup called
Office, and all was well. We just replaced our Canon MP730 printer with a
Canon MP830 printer. The printer was set up on the desktop, as was the
previous printer, the 730.

Problem is that now on the desktop the workgroup displays both the desktop
and the laptop computer, but on the laptop the workgroup only displays the
laptop computer. Therefore, the laptop cannot print because the new Canon 830
printer cannot be added/accessed.

I have checked and the new printer is shown as shared. I have turned off the
firewall on both computers; still no luck. I can ping the desktop from the
laptop, and can pink t he laptop from the desktop. I have no clue why the
desktop shows both PCs on the workgroup but the laptop does not.

I don't care much about file sharing, but I really need to print from the
laptop. I've read through dozens of postings, done searches on the internet
and checked Dell's help/support (I just don't have the fortitude to try to
reach Dell support) but still no luck. Can anyone here help? Thanks in
advance!

Were you able to share the previous printer?

Rather than looking at the workgroup (in My Network Places), what
happens if you try to add the printer in the normal way using the "Add
Printer Wizard" from Control Panel | Printers and Faxes?

Can you browse for the printer?
If not, can you connect by entering the printer's name as
\\SONYNAME\PrinterShareName
where "SONYNAME" is the name you assigned to the Vaio and
"PrinterShareName" is the name you assigned to the new printer

If this doesn't work, do you get any error messages? If so, please post
them exactly.

[P.S.: You said that you "connect to the internet through the desktop."
Is that really correct, or do both computers connect (wired or
wireless, it doesn't matter) to the router, which then connects to the
Internet?]

--
Lem MS MVP -- Networking

To the moon and back with 64 Kbits of RAM and 512 Kbits of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer

.

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