is it possible to network a printer if ou don't have a wireless system set up, and if so can someone give me step by step instructions on how to do it.
i have 3 computers and the kids are driving me nuts to print, they don't have a printer but i do on the other 2 computers.
thanks for your help in advance
2007-09-11 08:36:21 · 7 answers · asked by steelerfan 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Printers
Do you have a wired network? If not then you are out of luck. If you do then there are a couple of ways to do this:
Cheap and inconvenient:
On the system with the printer you want to use enable printer and file sharing and share the printer (right click on the printer icon, properties and then go to the sharing tab.).
On the other computers you can now add a network printer. If you browse for a printer you should see the computer with the printer on the network and then select the actual printer.
This will get you set up for free. The down side is that the system with the printer needs to be on to be able to print.
Expense and convenient:
The other option is to get a Ethernet network printer adapter. These come in parallel and USB options and allow your printer to be directly connected to the network. If you do not have a spare Ethernet port near the printer, then you may need to get a switch too, so you can get an extra Ethernet port by the printer.
Now anyone can print without having to go turn on the system the printer is attached to.
2007-09-11 08:52:16 · answer #1 · answered by Simon T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you don't have any network system, you can just buy simply a hub, or an ethernet switch.. a simple USB HUB with 4 ports will do if you have only 2 computers to share a single printer, make sure that both PC has installed the printer driver..
2007-09-11 08:52:15 · answer #2 · answered by OgieV 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm going to assume you're running xp on your main PC that has the printer. So here's what I do when sharing with XP pro.
click start
control panel
(make sure you're in classic view in the upper left corner)
open printers and faxes
you should see your printer listed here
right click on the printer and choose "sharing and security"
give the printer a share name and then hit ok.
You should see a hand holding your printer now in the icon. This means it's shared.
To setup the share on the kids pc's
open my computer
in the address bar where it says "my computer"
change it to \\computer
(computer being of coursed changed to the name of your pc with the printer, or the IP address of that computer)
ie. address> \\192.168.1.10 or >\\davescomputer
the browser will open a connection to your machine and display all shared devices/folders
right click on the printer you shared
choose "connect"
the printer should now be added to the kid's PC just set it as the default and print away.
NOTE this setup requires that your PC be on and running in order for them to print. ALSO this is all assuming you already have a local network established between the computers.
good-luck
2007-09-11 08:50:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have a router connect them to it and then run the network wizard to set all the machines into the same workgroup. Then check that your printer connected machine has the exception for file and printer sharing enabled. Right click the printer and set it share3d. Then browse the network on their machine and double click your machine, then the printer. This will install it locally. If you do not have a router, buy a network switch, connect, connect all the machines to it and use the wizard again. You will have to set the tcp/ip addresses manually this way. Right click each machine's network connection and set a matching group of addresses. I suggest using 192.168.1.1, then 192.168.1.2 and so on, each machine should default to a netmask of 255.255.255.0
2007-09-11 08:53:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Firstly you need to make sure you have permission to access the other PC's or PC you want to print to, e.g. you know how to access the files on the other computer then you are half way there.
Secondly you will need to share the printer on the computer you want to print to, Open printers and faxes, on the printer you want to share right click with the right button on the mouse and click on sharing. Then you will need to choose a name for that printer, eg HP type HP. when finished click on OK.
Thirdly, go to the computer you want to print from, open printers and faxes, click on add printer, you can try and browse for it (make sure you choose network printer) by click next, if you can not find it, you choose the next option, connect to this printer, you will need the name of the computer you have just shared the printer, and the name you called it, e.g. HP, then in the box type \\computername\printername then next and finished.
Good Luck.
2007-09-11 08:52:05 · answer #5 · answered by lifter 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Might be best to keep the kids off the printer. With the cost, they will quickly use up your ink. Is their connected at all?
2007-09-11 08:43:25 · answer #6 · answered by ohio44903 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need to connect the computers somehow, wireless or ethernet hub/switch
2007-09-11 08:44:53 · answer #7 · answered by Z 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋