Can anyone tell me how to share a wireless printer?

Question

I'm trying to share a dell 966 wireless printer from my desktop with my laptop. I'm working with 2 different operating systems the desktop has win 2000 and the laptop Win xp. I have set permissions and can view the desktop from laptop but can't access it. Might it have anything to do with the difference in operating systems.

Answer 1

Hey Dude, if it is a wireless printer, you shouldn't have to share it if you have wireless cards in both computers.

Okay, here is a 50 cent lesson in printers, networks and printer sharing.

First, you need to set-up a mini internal network. By default, windows sets up an APIPA (automatic private IP address) scheme. Do you have a wireless router and firewall? If you do, you probably have DHCP running on it (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). This is great for workstations but TERRIBLE for servers and static devices like printers (again, this is the 50 cent tour. there are many caveats to this)

Okay, so you probably connected your desktop to your wireless printer. I assume your desktop is wireless? Oh, are you doing that funky wireless system connecting ONLY the computer to the wireless print server? If so, STOP IT! :) Go out and get yourself a wireless router, like the Linksys WRT54GS for $50 and save yourself the headache. Build a legit wireless network. If you directly connected your pc to your cable modem or DSL plug without a wireless router, you are just asking for hacking problems. PLEASE go out and purchase any type of wireless router with firewall.

Once or if you have a real wireless network, you can statically set the IP address of the Wireless print server. You are going to want to pick an address within the same subnet mask. For example, if your internal IP address is 192.168.1.100 with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0, you may want to pick the ip address of 192.168.1.200 for the address of the Wireless print server. You need to be careful, however, not to give out an address that is a part of your DHCP range. From what I have seen, most wireless routers start with handing out ip address from the 192.168.1.100 to 192.168.1.150 range. From there, your dhcp scope can be adjusted.

Once you have an ip address on the print server, you can install the printer LOCALLY to the machine. Go through the normal printer install and choose "Local printer attached to my machine". On the next page, you must choose "Create a new port". Make sure you have "standard TCP/IP port" chosen. The printer name IS the ip address of the printer. From there, it should be a piece of cake.

Phew!~

How are your computers connected? This may be your problem. There are two types of wireless networks to concern yourself. The point to point ones where ONLY two devices communicate, and the access point wireless where multiple devices communicate with each other through some sort of access point. The Wireless router above acts as an access point.

We need more info to answer your question, seriously. I would love to help. This is what I do for a living :)

If you need some more help, email me.

Tom

Answer 2

Make sure file and print sharing is enabled on the desktop network properties and then run the add printer on the Laptop, choose network printer.

Answer 3

I vote for cafetom's answer. Good answer. I can't add anything else, so I am just seconding the motion.