printer sharing between vista and xp

That's like ringing up the garage and just saying... "my car won't start!"

Can you at least offer some more information?

:shock:
 

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need I explain better.......I have a pc with windows xp as the os and I have a laptop that runs on windows vista as the os, now how can I have ONE printer work wirelessly for both of them, I'd like to set them up up on a wireless network which is what I'm trying to do, can any one please explain if it can be done or is there another method of doing this, I'm not an IT tech, but I can do my best.
 

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Oh, the XP PC is the one connected to the printer, I'd like to connect the Vista laptop wireless to the printer connected to the pc with the printer.
 

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Is your printer network capable?

What I mean by this is that instead of connecting printer to PC you connect it to your wireless modem/router on it's own IP addy.
 

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Follow the following directions if you can physically connect your printer to the router/modem:

Connect your printer to the router and turn it on.

Go into your Control Panel->Hardware and Sound->Printers

Right-click anywhere blank and go down to "Run as Administrator->Add Printer".

Select "Add a network, wireless, Bluetooth printer".

There, your printer should show up in the list. If it doesn't, you may need to tweak some settings either on the printer, your machine, or your router. I'll be more than happy to walk you through additional procedures if that is the case.
 

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its_ace said:
How is this done? I thought I tried this connecting through the router/modem already, but not sure if I did it correctly.
Click to expand...


What sort of printer is it? as this set up will only work if your printer is network capable?

If you only have a USB printer cable...unplug it and plug it in to the other PC and try and print something.

This will test that both printers have the correct drivers installed. Vista may already have the correct drivers installed.

OK..so... if both pc's recognise the printer we can concentrate on tweaking the network settings.

In Vista this is easy.
 

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Thanks,
I've reached this step so far: the recogninition of the printer to both computer but connected via usb, I've already downloaded the correct and updated drivers. I have a
HP All In One Printer 1500 series, how do I know if this printer is compatible to being wirelessly connected to the pc's? Or am I just wasting time with this process?
 

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It tickles me when I see threads like this. First of all, hooking the printer up to the router is not necessary. ANY printer will work, especially a USB one. Also, it does not matter what brand, color, model etc. the printer is, the general process is almost always the same. Go ahead and hook up the printer directly to the XP machine via USB and since your printer works that way we can continue. I know this is an old thread but it will help anyone trying to do this who may find this site, since a true solution was never posted and this is the threat I came across when searching Google. The process is a bit detailed, but basically:

1. Make sure Printer Sharing is enabled on your Vista machine. To do this, go to Control Panel -> Network and Sharing Center -> right click on the wireless network connection and go to 'Properties' -> Make sure under 'Printer Sharing' on the bottom half of the window is set to 'On'.

2. Make sure Printer Sharing is enabled on the XP machine. To do this, go to Start -> Control Panel -> Network Connections -> right click Wireless Connection and go to 'Properties' -> Make sure 'File and Printer Sharing' is checked.

3. Make sure the printer on the XP machine is being shared. To do this, go to Control Panel ->Printers and Faxes -> right click the printer to share and go to 'Properties' -> click the 'Sharing' tab -> click the dot next to 'Share this printer' and give it a name. Then click 'OK'.

4. Make sure both computers can get online, then make sure they are on the same workgroup. On the XP machine, right click 'My Computer' and then 'Properties'. Take note of the full computer name, you'll need this. On the Vista machine, click the start button then right click 'Computer' and go to 'Properties'. Take note of the computer name, you'll need that too. On both computers look where it says 'Workgroup' and make sure they are the same. If not then you'll need to change it. On the Vista machine just click 'Change Settings', on the XP machine click 'Change...' and make them both the same.

5. Make sure firewalls on both computers are configured to allow printer Sharing, if applicable. This varies from firewall to firewall. If you are not sure, then don't worry about this step.

6. Add the printer on the Vista machine by going to Start -> Control Panel -> Printers, then click 'Add a Printer' at the top. Believe or not, click "Add a local printer" (I know you want to add a network printer but that way it doesn't work). Click "Create a new port" - "Local Port" - "Next". In the next box you have to enter a port name like this: \\PC name\Printer name where "PC name" is the network name of the XP machine (step 4) and "Printer name" is the network name of that printer (step 3). Be careful with the names. Check in your XP PC "Control Panel" - "Printers and faxes" - "your printer" - right click - "share" - "share resources name" to find it again.

7. Choose the manufacturer and printer model of the printer you are adding. If you have a password on your user account you may have to enter the Windows username and password from the XP machine when adding it. Now the printer will be added and you can print a test page or print something to test it.

Hope this works for you! I have done this on several PCs and it work out just fine without a hitch. I feel sorry for people that go online and have to go through several pages of unhelpful advice and spend weeks, sometimes months, trying to get something to work, so here you go, consider it a freebie. :D
 

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I tried the procedure posted by piercedsphynx on June 4. On step #2 "Wireless Connection," my XP does not show the term "Wireless Connection." That put the brakes on this setup.

My home setup is as follows: I have a PC with an XP operating system connected via Ethernet cable to a w 2Wire wireless modem.

I have a a new laptop running Vista basic. I want to be able to print to the printer, already connected via USB to the PC, from my new laptop and print to it wireless, hopefully through the 2Wire modem. The laptop connects to the internet via the wireless modem just fine.

I'm not the greatest at computers but get by. If my PC & 2Wire configuration allows it, can anyone give me a step by step procedure to allow my Vista OS laptop to wireless print to my printer that is USB connected to my XP OS PC which is ethernet connected to my 2Wire wireless modem?

I have NOT setup a home network. If that is required, I would need a step by step procedure. Hopefully not. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
 

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