Ok, trying to be basic here. I have two computers, on older with XP, and a new one with Vista on it.?

Question

I would like to share the one printer we have on both, and be able to go on the internet on both at the same time.
I'd like an answer in plain english please, as I don't speak computer techno, but I don't want to not get all the info, so I do have a friend who can translate if needed.
I am concerned with the Vista controversy as I am not able to load a lot of my programs on the Vista computer, (including the printer driver), and wonder if I will be able to access them through the other computer. If I can then share and transfer files, anything I need to print, I can share with the non-Vista computer.
I am on dial-up, as we cant get cable internet here, and don't need anything wireless in this configuration unless necessary.
I did search "Answer's", but again, I'm not that comp. litterate, and was not sure I understood what I was reading.
Thank you

I'm sorry, I do believe I have ethernet adapters on both computer's. Larger phone type plug on the back? Hope this is what you meant.
Thanks again.

Answer 1

Here is the real problem for you, if your printer mfg does not have drivers for VISTA yet you simply can't get that printer to work with VISTA whether it is shared or not. The computer that is printing to it has to have the correct drivers!

You are not alone with this issue. Check the mfgs website and see if they have updated drivers for VISTA, if not, don't even go any further. You can share files and you can transfer them between the two computers by making a local network.

To do that you need a crossover cable between the two computers attached to the "Large" phone plug (it should have 8 pins) that is an ethernet connector. Get a CROSSOVER cable from your local computer store, connect it to both machines and run the network setup wizard on each machine. It should connect your two machines. That will allow files to transfer etc but you will not be able to use the printer unless you have the correct VISTA driver!

Answer 2

I would, connect the printer to the xp comp, the internet to the xp comp, then, using a crossover cable, connect the vista comp to the xp comp
in order to connect the vistacomp to the xp comp you need to have an ethernet adapter on both computers, since your on dial up I assume your xp computer has a modem and that is how you connect to the internet, file sharing and printer sharing should work the same across the platforms but the driver will probably work best with the xp computer so, it's pretty much a better chance that way

Answer 3

As the computer is booting up, repeatedly press the F8 button to get you to the Safe mode menu. You can choose safe mode from there. There was a virus a while back that used to do that, I can't tell if that's the same virus. Unfortunately, some of the major anti-virus software programs out there don't work well in safe mode. Try to download one from another computer and install it within safe mode (make sure to download the current updates for it too) and run the scan on the system.