Why did my home network fail, so my laptop won't print to the printer attached to the desk top home computer?

Question

I have Yahoo DSL. It was easy to set up a year or so ago when I got it. I even set up a network in the house so my laptop could print to the printer attached to the other desk top computer. But suddenly, a few months ago, I couldn't do that any more -- I would get an error message.

The laptop's diagnostics told me that either (1) a cable was unplugged (but this is a wireless network, so there are no cables) or (2) my router -- you know, the box that came with the DSL set-up -- wasn't connected or wasn't working properly. But it's turned on, all the lights are on, and both the laptop and the other computer can access the internet wirelessly.

So, what's my problem?

Answer 1

Make sure printer sharing is enabled on your desktop. Recent security upgrades may have resulted it it being turned off.

Answer 2

Ok I have had to set this up many times and got it basically down. If the network failed then get a flash drive and make a new network. take the flash drive and use that to tell all the computers that are going to be on the network that they are on the network by formatting the flashdrive during the wireless network setup wizard and then plug it in to each computer. Lastly after that has been done finish the wizard and then make sure your printer drivers are installed. Then right click your printer and select printer sharing. Then click share this printer and give it a name. Lastly download the drivers for your printer on the laptop and click new printer in the faxes and printer folder and have it search the network for the printer and if it finds it then click it and finish teh wizard and print a test page and your done. If not contact your printer provider.

Answer 3

sounds like your laptop dropped off the local area network, reset it and all should work again!