LAPTOP communicating with printer via Router?

Question

I have a desktop running windows xp connected to a adsl/router via a etrhernet cable ,the desktop is connected to a printer via a USB cable this prints ok.
My Laptop communicates with the Internet wirelessly as does the desktop via the Ethernet cable connected to the Router . QUESTION how can I get the laptop to connect to the printer and print via Router .The Laptop is running Windows Vista

Answer 1

Yes

Go to the desktop; open printers and faxes; select the printer and right click, enable printer sharing per the prompts.

Now go to the lap top. Open printers and faxes; select add a printer; select network printers and let the notebook find the printer and install it. It may take a few minutes to find the printer first time.

Now as long as the desk top is on and connected to the router and the notebook is within wireless access you can print.

Answer 2

Hi Jackobrookes, first you must use a different driver for your Vista laptop, the XP printer driver wont work on Vista. Check your printer manufacturer's website and see if they have made a Vista compatible driver for your make and model of printer. Try using the ICS (Internet connection sharing) method, there are other methods, see under help about "home or small office networks" run the Network Setup Wizard from the desktop as primary (acts as a server) and then do the same to the laptop. For more detailed instructions, go to your control panel, open "Network Connections" and click on "Set up a home or small office network" in the left panel. If your unsure about any steps use the "help menu". Hope this helps, Eamonn.

Answer 3

I don't have vista, but in all prior versions of windows you open Windows Explorer and in the path type the following:

\\computername

\\IP Address

Where computer name or IP address is the name or address of the computer that shares the printer in the network.

Did I mention you need to make sure you share your printer first? Yes, you have to share the printer or you will not be able to see it shared when you type the \\computername or \\IP Address

To share the printer open Printer and Faxes from the start menu. Right click the printer you want to share and select the share. Leave all default and click ok.

There is a simple way to configure the share printer in the other computer and I can't recall it. However, you can use the Add Printer from the Printers and Faxes menu.

You have to say which printer either by browsing to the pc who shares the printer or selecting that it is a TCP/IP local printer. You will need the drivers to complete the process.

There is plenty of info on how to install the printer. check the manuals that came with the printer.

Answer 4

Make sure both of your computers are part of the SAME "workgroup". To do this, right-click on the My Computer icon on your desktop and go to Properties. Click the Computer Name tab and from there you should be able to add the computer to the network.

Remember the workgroup name you give to your desktop PC, as you'll need it to add the printer to your laptop later..

Adding computers to a workgroup will enable File and Printer sharing on each computer.

On your desktop PC, go to the control panel > printers and right-click on the printer you wish to share and click Sharing...

Enable sharing and give the printer a name easy to remember.

Then, on your laptop, go to control panel > printers and, at th e top left of the screen, click "add a printer" and use the "add network printer" option.

Use the second box to add a printer name, and use the desktop's workgroup name and printer name in this format:

\\desktopname\printername

This should wirelessly download the printerdrivers you need from your desktop to your laptop and enable the laptop to use the printer.

Good luck!

Answer 5

If the printer connects via community cable on your community community, and your pc connects wirelessly to the comparable community then definite you could. You bypass to gadgets and printers, choose to characteristic a printer, then choose to characteristic a community printer (domicile windows 7, quite distinctive in in the previous variations of domicile windows). If the printer develop into set up suitable on the community, the printer wizard might desire to locate it.

Answer 6

Share the printer......in the printer properties you can share the printer on the network...

give it a name then on the laptop do
START>RUN then type //computername/sharename

computername is the name of the computer you have the printer attached to....

then you can connecto to it with the laptop...