Re: New Printer problem--Help please!

JO wrote:
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
The reason that I asked if you had been able to print using the old printer is that -- unless you did something else after disconnecting the old printer and installing the new one -- there should be no issue of incorrect permissions and/or firewall settings (which seem to be Johnnie's issues).

It would have been helpful if you had supplied the IP address for the desktop and laptop. I'm guessing that because DHCP is not enabled on the desktop, it may have an IP address that is incompatible with the laptop, preventing sharing. Because you have a Linksys router, the laptop's IP address probably is 192.168.1.x (where x is probably 100 or 101). If the third segment of the desktop's IP address is NOT 1 (e.g., if it is 192.168.0.x), the two computers are on different subnets and can't communicate.

Assuming that's the problem, on the Desktop:

Control Panel > Network and Internet Connections > Network Connections.

Right Click on "Local Area Network" and click "Properties."

On the "General" tab, you should see a list below "This connection uses the following items." The list should include Client for Microsoft Networks, File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks, and Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). It may also include QoS Packet Scheduler. If the list includes anything else, or if any of the first three items are not in the list, please provide this information in your next post.

Right click on Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click the "Properties" button.

Click the radio buttons to "Obtain an IP address automatically" and "Obtain DNS server address automatically." Click the "Advanced" button. Now click the "WINS" tab.

On the WINS tab, click the radio button to "Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP."

OK your way out.

Reboot (probably not necessary, but you never know).

Can you add the printer on the laptop now?

For completeness, you should also "Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP" for both the Local Area Connection and the Wireless Network Connection on the laptop. You shouldn't have to change any of the other network parameters on the laptop, but if the list of items for either of the laptop's connections includes more than the 4 items identified above, or is missing any of those items, please post that info too.


--
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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