Networking 1 printer with 2 computers

I have two computers and one printer that I want to hook up to both of them.

The Printer is hooked up to computer A.

Computer B is hooked up to a Wireless DSL Modem/Router.

Computer A has a Wireless USB adapter hooked up to it and this is how it gets to the internet.

My printer is an HP Officejet Pro L76800 and I have been told I can hook it up to the router or something. I dont have the installation disc which I think is a problem but how can both of these computers use this printer???

 

Okay I hooked it up and installed it to Computer B but I do not know what to do from here. It is also hooked up to the router via ethernet cable.

 

are you using windows? you can try to "Add printer" in Printer and Faxes
and choose Network printer, then browse the printer in the network

 

Yes I am using windows. I tried the whole add printer thing and I can't find the printer. :/

 

have you shared the printer from the computer it's attached on?

 

For me windows vista copied the driver over automatically so don't worry about it. as long as the driver is installed properly on the computer that the printer is directly connected to.

here is how mine is networked. this might give you an idea. excuse the MSpaint


For windows configuration all I had to do was enable file and printer sharing on both computers, then make the printer shared on the desktop computer, than click add printer on my laptop and it found the printer then installed the drivers automatically. Now I can print.

 

Okay, how do I do computer share? I have the installation disc and I updated the the drivers on both computers. I hooked up the printer to the computer that the router is directly hooked up to. Now how do I go about sharing?

 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Share-a-printer

Try that.

 

I failed to mention that both computers are using Windows XP. The computer hooked directly to the router is Windows XP Media Center Edition and the other Computer is Windows XP Professional. Sorry....

 

Alrighty.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_july2.mspx

 

Do you mean OfficeJet Pro L7680?

If it is OfficeJet Pro L7680, then you can unplug it from computer A and plug it using ethernet cable to your wireless router instead.

There are multiple ways to install this printer using its built-in network feature. The easiest way is by running HP installation disc on both PCs and choose network printer installation. For advanced user, you can use its physical control panel (buttons and LCD) to configure configure its network settings (IP address, subnet mask, gateway), and then manually add network printer in Windows using the previously entered network settings (mainly IP address).

Later you can use web browser in one of the PCs and type-in the printer's IP address to configure more settings.

 

yeah usually for HP network printer you just have to hold the "paper+arrow" button for 5 seconds, and the printer will print its network setting (IP address etc)
then in computers you type in the IP address in "Add printer" ..
that's if you wanna try it. It's another approach if the printer is connected to router via ethernet.

 

Yes thats the printer. This is a little frustrating and people make it sound like you can just plug it into the router and your done but that isnt the case.

I am still not getting it to work and this is what I have done:
Well as everyone knows by now the main computer is hooked up to the router and now my printer is hooked up directly to the router via CAT5 cable (not the computer) and so it is on the same network. I even did a test print. For sharing (which is what I am trying to do) I added the network printer and I went to sharing options. But before I did all of that I made sure both computers were in the same workgroup in system which they are now. Now I set my network printer to share and I went to my other computer. I went to add a printer and I selected network printer connected to another computer. I selected connect to this printer and I typed \\thiscomputer(example\Myprinter(example) and clicked next. It could not find my printer so I browsed and I couldnt even find the other computer on the list let alone the network printer. This would mean that the second computer is not hooked up to the network right? It uses a wireless USB adapter to connect to our network. So What do I do now?....

 

open windows explorer and browse network places to see if you can find the other computer.
If it's there, click on it to get a view of the shared printer,
and on the printer icon, right click and choose "connect"

If it's not working, try the above solution for Network printer,
hold "paper+arrow" button for 5 seconds and see if it prints the IP setting

edit: it will be a lot easier if you know the printer's IP, do you know it?
if not then when the printer is connected to the main computer, use the driver CD to change/view its IP
then use the IP in "Add Printer" (make sure the printer is connected directly to router)

 

I have all of the printer's IP settings I printed the printer's network config. I will admit that I am a little bit lost when you say open windows explorer then browse network places. Isnt network places on the start menu? And when I get there what exactly am I suppose to do? THANKS!

 

have you tried to use the printer's IP in "Add Printer" wizard when the printer is connected directly to router?

Yes, you can also get to network places from start menu.
expand the windows network/neighborhood and search the other computer.
If you found it, click on it to view the printer icon, right click -> connect.

 

Is it working now?

 

I only used the printer's IP when I added it as a "network" printer in the Add Printer wizard on my main computer. For some reason the printer and main computer arent showing up on the other computer.

Hmm the network places search isnt working. Maybe Im doing something wrong?

 

You do not need sharing turned on for a network printer. Use add network printer then enter the http://IP address for the address.

 

the computers are in the same workgroup, but can they ping each other?
I'm afraid they can't ... are you using static IP or DHCP from router?
You need to check the IP settings or post them here.

 

Network Status

GO!

Your Gateway is Ready for Internet Access


Broadband Connection

DSL Status: Connected
ISP Status: Connected
Speed(Down/Up): 7616 / 864 Kbps
ISP Protocol: DHCP
Username:
WAN IP Address: 98.108.201.43




Connection Type: Ethernet
PC Name: unknown
IP Address: 192.168.1.64
MAC Address: 00:13:72:15:5e:93


Connection Type: Wireless
PC Name: DDDTSN91
IP Address: 192.168.1.66
MAC Address: 00:19:cb:f4:a7:3c


Connection Type: Ethernet
PC Name: HP2AEE79
IP Address: 192.168.1.67
MAC Address: 00:17:a4:2a:ee:79

 

can they ping each other?

The simplest thing to connect to printer is via Add Printer,
enter Network printer "192.168.1.67" or "\\192.168.1.67" or "http://192.168.1.67"
(that is the printer's IP right? or is it the first one?)

 

Do you have firewall software installed on either computer?
If yes who made it?

 

Keeps saying windows cant connect to printer. AHHHH!!!

 

I do, I have McAfee on the problematic one and Trend Micro on the other. I turned off both firewalls and both windows firewalls and I am still not getting the computer or the network printer to display when I add a printer on the problematic comp.

 

- HP L7680 Printer: Connected to router with Cat5
- XP Pro Computer: Connected to router wirelessly
- XP Media Center Computer: Connected to router with Cat5

Which computer can't print?
Please confirm the computer that you can print with.

 

XP Pro computer can't print. And when I try to add a printer the XP Media Center Computer nor the HP L7680 show up on the add list.

 

To recap:
- HP L7680 Printer: Connected to router with Cat5
- XP Pro Computer: Connected to router wirelessly, Can't Print
- XP Media Center Computer: Connected to router with Cat5, Can Print
-------------------------
First, confirm that XP Pro computer is connected to router wirelessly. Make sure you aren't connecting to your neighbours wireless router by mistake.

If XP Pro computer is connected to wireless router: Do the following on the XP Pro Computer.
Turn on the printer.
- Start > Control Panel > Printer and Faxes > Add a Printer > next > click network printer > next > click browse for printer > next.

Now are you able to see your printer. If yes select it and click next. If no double try double clicking "Micrsoft windows network". If you see your workgroup name try double clicking it.

-------------
Unrelated to the printer:
You posted your WAN IP. You should probably delete that.

 

The printer, and PC are not listed when I do that on my problem computer.

 

Are you able to connect the XP Pro computer to the router with Cat5? If you can do that try it out, borrow the Cat5 from the WindowsXP Media Center computer if need be. This would at least narrow it down to a wireless problem.

 

I cant the computer is just out of reach for a CAT5 cable to the router. :/

 

I suggest that you try the following.
- download the latest printer driver from the HP website to a USB key, keep this handy for a bit.
- move the modem/wireless router into the same room as the XP Pro Computer, and connect them with Cat5. You'll be creating a home network without an internet connection.
- Move the HP Printer into that room, connect it to the router with Cat5.
- install the latest printer driver you downloaded. If if asks you to connect the computer to the printer over usb do it, install the driver, confirm you can print over usb, then disconnect the usb.
- Now on the XP Pro computer, try adding the network printer.

- HP offer 2 drivers, a complete version with all the scanning features and a basic print printer. choose the one you prefer first, if that doesn't work try using the other one.

I had to do this exact same thing to get a HP 2800 color laser printer printer to network with a computer once. I think to install the printer driver it required that I connect the computer to the printer over USB.

post an update when you've tried the above.

 

There are a couple problems with this:
-Both computers already have all of the current drivers. This printer use to be on the problem PC before it was transferred to the other PC.

-They are located in the same room however, the phone jack is no where near the problem PC. that's why the other PC is hooked directly to the router because the desk is right next to the phone jack. The other PC is a good 20 feet away and I do not have a CAT5 long enough.

-Even if I do everything listed above I will switch everything and it will be the same. For some reason problem PC is no acknowledging the printer or the other PC but it is acknowledging that there is a wireless internet connection.

Maybe the PC is just broken?

 

reading your posts I'm sure the computers can't ping each other ?

you don't need to try to find the printer, all you need to do first is to get them pinging each other first.

It can be PC problem, can be wireless adapter/router problem..

if it's PC problem then try:
- disable all firewall and antivirus then restart and try again
- re-install windows ..I dont know what else to try

if wireless problem, the fastest route is to get a long ethernet cable.

 

To recap:
- HP L7680 Printer: Connected to router with Cat5
- XP Media Center Computer: Connected to router with Cat5, Can Print

- XP Pro Computer: Connected to router via wireless USB adapter, Can't Print
-----------------------------------------------------------

Well I've got 3 ideas.
- You have McAfee installed on the XP Pro computer (the problem one). You mentioned you dissabled the McAfee firewall and the windows firewall. Maybe you need to uninstall McAfee altogether. Then if you can print to the networked printer you can reinstall McAfee and focuse on setting it's firewall rules, or just use the windows firewall.

- Maybe the problem lies in the wireless USB adapter on the XP Pro computer. What type is it? is there info in their support pages about people having similar problems?
- You mentioned you are using a DSL modem/router. what type is it? Maybe there's some info on it's website support pages.

Sorry I can't be more help.

 

Piece of crap HP machines.....

Download

HP Basic Features software/driver - IT Professional Use Only

from
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?os=228&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=2512009

Double click the file and it will extract the files to folder called HP_WebRelease

To make your life easier, move the folder to the root (c:\) of your harddrive because this can only be done with a command line switch.

Now open a command prompt by clicking
START > RUN and typing
cmd
Press ENTER

You will get a command line box (black box)
type the following at the prompt
cd..
PRESS ENTER
cd..
PRESS ENTER


You should now be looking at
c:\>

type the following so the line looks like (don't type the c:\> again)

c:>\HP_WebRelease\setup.exe –s –ipaddress 192.168.1.67
Press Enter

Go away for 30 minutes.

Come back

Print

 

The wireless adapter is called ZyXEL and it also manages the wireless connection. The router we are using has no name, its a Verizon one and the Model number is GT704WG Wireless DSL Modem/Router. I have heard a lot of people complaining about these.

I looked up guides, and there was a video on youtube where a tech was doing the same thing I was doing. The Printer was hooked up to Windows 7 and it was networked to the other computer wirelessly (Vista). The same problem happened to him, the other computer didnt show the printer nor the other computer in the network printer list. So what he did was he went to my network places and he did some kind of search but I dont have that option on the XP PRO, when I get to my network places all there is an MSN butterfly and I click it and I get an error message.

 

so have you tried gerryf19's steps? does it work?

 

yeah, I'd hate to think I typed all that for nothing....

 

Lame isn't it?

:cry:

 

Have you tried my way? using a computer to share the printer rather than having it as a proper network printer connected to the router?

I know its not as convenient because the sharing computer has to always be on when you want to print something but still....

 

I believe that also doesn't work.
the computers cannot ping each other and they're not finding each other in Network places

 

Currently I am in the process of doing it your way. I would have to do this to both machines right?

And if my computers can't Ping each other how do I fix that?