I have recently set up a home network and I can't share the printers, please help!?

Question

I have set up the network through XPs network wizard and the internet is now shared between the two computers but even though the printer is set to share it is not visable from the other computer (the share this printer option is selected in properties) both computers also have a shared folder but they don't match up to each other, therefore they act as ordinary local folders. How can I make the printer visable and make the shared folders correspond? Ive tried add printer wizard but the printer isn't visable (tried with more than one printer). I know the network is working because I can now access the internet from both PCs

Answer 1

Il give the shared folder a try 1st...Those shared folders you have are not synchronized if at all they dont even know that the other one exists. In this case, 'shared' means shared among users of that particular pc and is not in relation to your network. If at all you do want to share folders among the pcs on your network, right click on the folder you want to share and select sharing and security >> then select share this folder. That would make your folders visible on the network. :)
To share a printer on a network...1st have the printer connected directly to one of the pcs on the network (which i assume is how you have it setup) or you can directly hook it up to your switch/router and give it an ip address...if hooked up to one of the pcs, install it like you would normally, right click on the printer >> properties >> sharing [tab] and select share this printer. Then go onto the other pcs on your network and search for a network printer. :)

Answer 2

the windows default program of doing simple things like this are always faily simple programs, but if something goes wrong, u hav absolutely no idea what it is. Network Magic is a free program in which u set it up on all pcs in the network, if the printer is connected and installed to a pc while installing magic, it will automatically detect the printer and add it to the network. what makes this program so user friendly is that it give a network map which enables you to see a sort of family tree of what is connected, using the internet access as the original family members. also, you can use it to set up a network security system so that if your using a wireless, just anybody next door cant steal your internet access for free. also, if they try to do that when u dont have a security system, it will alert you when an unknown device is using your router.

Answer 3

It sounds like the workgroup setting might be (slightly) different for each computer. Check this again.
Failing that, restart the computer and check Entire Network from Windows explorer.

I'm assuming the shared printer and folder icons have a little hand icon underneath as they should.

Answer 4

firstly check file and print sharing is enabled on network properties, second check fire wall setting, suggest turning off temp to see if you can see it then. Nest type //computer name into run command or windows explorer address bar, see what you can see. folders wise, check hand symbol is by drive or folder as this shows it is shared then right click folder - properties, permissions, and check other user account is enabled there. Also check user account is available on the other machine.

Answer 5

right click my computer go to properties, computer name and network ID. Check to make sure the workgroup name is the same. Check your windows firewall and see if it is on, it will interfere with the networking.

Answer 6

. . . you're just being selfish not sharing your printer . . .