Vista - Setting Up A Shared Printer for XP and Vista

**Extensa**

How to Setup a Shared Printer for XP and Vista

Information

This tutorial will step you through the process of sharing a printer on Vista and XP.

This has been successful on an XP Home Edition Computer with a Canon MP150 and a wireless Vista Home Premium x64 and a XP notebook. All computers sharing need to be on the same workgroup and network.

NOTE

Printer sharing needs to be enabled on the Host computer.

WARNING

Only use this method if USB or other corded connections are not acceptable. This is a supplement to normal printer connections. Please ask for help by posting a reply at the bottom. I myself will reply or another member of the Vista x64 community.

1. On your network, look at the computer name for the computer you wish to connect to (Host) and click in to it. You should be able to see the name of the printer you wish to connect. You will need these 2 names for step number 7/8.

2. Now click on the Printers icon in the control panel.

3. Right click on a blank portion of the screen, select add printer and a menu will pop up.

4. Choose the add local printer option.

5. Now choose 'Create New Port'.

6. Click Next.

7. Another popup screen will open. This is where you need the computer and printer name.

8. Enter the following into the box \\computername\printername

9. Click OK

10. It will now prompt you to pick your printer firmware. Select your model.

11. Click Next. It will now ask to either use the installed driver, or replace the current driver. Pick what you wish.

Information

You may need to install Vista Drivers for your Printer if its shared from a XP machine or XP drivers if its shared from a Vista machine before your printer may work correctly

12. Click Next. Type in a printer name. And either select, or unselect the 'Set as Default Printer Option.

13. It will now install the printer.

14. You have now successfully added a printer. You can now test a print sheet.

NOTE

This information has been proven to work, as this is how I set up my printer. This should be a fairly straight forward tutorial.

WARNING

The host computer must be ON to print, along with the computer that is sending the document. Remember the printer also must be on to print.

Hope this works for you,

Extensa

**curtmate** · 11-09-2008

i am trying to setup a printer on my new laptop with 32 bit vista. i am getting message spooler is not running. when i go to services.msc i restart it but it still does not work. i have installed the driver but its like the computer ignores it. im not sure what to do. can anyone help?

**Fumz** · 11-09-2008

In the services menu, do you have Print Spooler set to automatic?

**curtmate** · 11-09-2008

yes

any other ideas what to do next?

**Fumz** · 11-09-2008

hmmm... this might be a problem? If Print Spooler is set to automatic, then it's started... so why is it saying that it's not running?

What laptop (model #) are you running and what printer are you trying to use (make and model)?

**curtmate** · 11-09-2008

i have a fujitsu siemens. new. 2ghz etc. i have 2 printers. an epson laser, a few years old, and a lexmark p4350. none of which are in the database of vista. the lexmark is more important

**Fumz** · 11-09-2008

Is the Lexmark a USB printer?

**curtmate** · 11-09-2008

yes, both are

ill have to sign off now. i wold really appreciate if you would leave your suggestions. thanks

**Fumz** · 11-09-2008

hmmm.... Vista "should" install your USB printer drivers automatically.

Gimme a minute to boot up my Vista test rig (has all the defaults).

OK, plug in the printer via USB. What happens when you go Control Panel/Hardware and Sound/Printers? Don't click "add a printer", just click the top dialog menu, "printers". A window should open up that lists the printers.

**curtmate** · 11-10-2008

i have done this and when i click "printers" nothing happens.

11-09-2008
curtmate vista x32 home premium 5 posts	Re: Setting Up A Shared Printer for XP and Vista i am trying to setup a printer on my new laptop with 32 bit vista. i am getting message spooler is not running. when i go to services.msc i restart it but it still does not work. i have installed the driver but its like the computer ignores it. im not sure what to do. can anyone help?
My System Specs

11-09-2008
Fumz Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 878 posts	Re: Setting Up A Shared Printer for XP and Vista In the services menu, do you have Print Spooler set to automatic?
My System Specs

11-09-2008
Fumz Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 878 posts	Re: Setting Up A Shared Printer for XP and Vista hmmm... this might be a problem? If Print Spooler is set to automatic, then it's started... so why is it saying that it's not running? What laptop (model #) are you running and what printer are you trying to use (make and model)?
My System Specs

11-09-2008
curtmate vista x32 home premium 5 posts	Re: Setting Up A Shared Printer for XP and Vista i have a fujitsu siemens. new. 2ghz etc. i have 2 printers. an epson laser, a few years old, and a lexmark p4350. none of which are in the database of vista. the lexmark is more important
My System Specs

11-09-2008
Fumz Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 878 posts	Re: Setting Up A Shared Printer for XP and Vista Is the Lexmark a USB printer?
My System Specs

11-10-2008
curtmate vista x32 home premium 5 posts	Re: Setting Up A Shared Printer for XP and Vista i have done this and when i click "printers" nothing happens.
My System Specs

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