Am I thinking right

[henryp]

Connecting a printer to share between a desktop and a laptop through bt 2700. If I connect printer usb lead to a 4 port hub inlet then usb lead out to bt hub and usb lead out to desktop will this work Also how to set up on the bt hub for sharing etc; All comments appreciated but simple as I think my brain cells are ageing rapidly Would the hub have to be a powered one?

[Rik]

You can't do what you want, Henry. The USB connection on the 2700 is for ADSL. What you need to do is connect the printer directly to one machine, then share it, and connect the other computer via the LAN. You can get printers which will connect to the LAN directly, ie via the router, which will overcome your problem. As it is, the printer will only be available when the machine to which it is directly connected is switched on.

[Sebby]

Another (albeit more expensive) option is to buy a printer server. You connect your printer to the printer server by USB, and the printer service then connects to your router by ethernet or wireless.

[henryp]

Oh dear Obviously going up the wrong way of thinking. My desktop is connected to printer by usb but I assumed wrong about the bt hub connection. It will have to wait till this printer falls over then.

Cheers for the help

[Rik]

You can just share the printer on your desktop, Henry, Printers & Faxes > Printer > Properties > Sharing, and then from the laptop, install the printer, pointing the installation to the network. It will find the shared printer and install the necessary drivers. Whenever the main machine is on, the printer will be available. As a backup, install something like PDF Creator as a local printer, and then documents can be converted into PDF files to print when the printer is available.

[henryp]

You can just share the printer on your desktop, Henry, Printers & Faxes > Printer > Properties > Sharing, and then from the laptop, install the printer, pointing the installation to the network. It will find the shared printer and install the necessary drivers. Whenever the main machine is on, the printer will be available. As a backup, install something like PDF Creator as a local printer, and then documents can be converted into PDF files to print when the printer is available.

By main machine do you mean desktop? Also I will look into that program you mentioned. Does that have to be installed on lappie or desktop? All strange to me I should have got a computer earlier in life Please move if getting off subject

[Rik]

Hi Henry

The main machine, in this instance, is whichever machine has the printer physically attached - probably the desktop. I have one network printer, which runs off the router, and the other four printers (don't ask) are connected to my main desktop machine, then shared with every other machine on the network. The router-connected printer is available at all times, the rest when the main machine is turned on.

You can pick up PDF Creator here (it's free):

http://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/

Once installed, it is simply selected as a printer in any application and will then generate a PDF file for you.

[henryp]

Thanks for all the info.I will give it a try and most probably give myself a headache

[Rik]

Thanks, Henry. Just ask as you go if you're not sure of anything.

[henryp]

You can just share the printer on your desktop, Henry, Printers & Faxes > Printer > Properties > Sharing, and then from the laptop, install the printer, pointing the installation to the network. It will find the shared printer and install the necessary drivers. Whenever the main machine is on, the printer will be available. As a backup, install something like PDF Creator as a local printer, and then documents can be converted into PDF files to print when the printer is available.

Hello, Back again, Still cannot get the laptop pointing towards the printer. Followed the instructions on sharing on desktop but cant figure out how to get the lappie done. lappie has vista on so i,ve gone into the network section and tried to add printer but it cannot find one. Should I be a  private or public network? I only want to use my desktop and laptop at home and it,s only two of us using it 

[Rik]

Hi Henry

Does the printer have the little hand under it on the host machine? If so, that's properly shared. I don't use Vista, so I'm possibly off track in what follows. In the Printers & Faxes folder, hit Add printer, then select 'A network printer or a printer connected to another computer', you should then be able to search your LAN to find the printer.

[henryp]

yes it does show hand on main desktop. tried adding printer to lappie and it searched but no joy.Even put printer name in but no joy. Going for a lie down before something goes out of the bedroom window

[Rik]

The problem is that I've never done this from Vista, Henry, but someone who has will be along shortly.

[Lance]

Henry, in the Network and Sharing Centre, check that your network is showing as Private and that 'Network Discovery' is turned on. After that, when you go to Printers > Add printer > Add a local printer it should find the shared printer on the other machine. If you can make sure that the workgroup on the two machines is the same as well, then it will make the network discovery quicker.

[Rik]

Thanks, Lance. 

[Simon]

Henry, you're not alone in having trouble getting Vista to see your printer.  I had the same problem, and gave up, but will try Lance's method again. 

[henryp]

Henry, in the Network and Sharing Centre, check that your network is showing as Private and that 'Network Discovery' is turned on. After that, when you go to Printers > Add printer > Add a local printer it should find the shared printer on the other machine. If you can make sure that the workgroup on the two machines is the same as well, then it will make the network discovery quicker.

Thanks for reply BUT what do you mean by the workgroup names on both/ Haven,t got a clue sorry 

[Rik]

If it's like XP, Henry, right-click My Computer (or System in Control Panel), then Computer name, then to change the name of this computer, click Change. At that point, you can give the computer a unique name, eg my notebook, and name the workgroup, eg homelan. Repeat the exercise on the desktop, but use a different computer name, eg my desktop, but the same workgroup name.

[Steve]

You've probably got two workgroups one MSHOME and the WORKGROUP. If you still can find your your shared printer it should become available as you browse your local network tree. If still no luck try addressing directly the PC with the shared printer i.e \\local ipaddress\ this "run" command should list the available shares including lpt on that machine.

[henryp]

Back again and still still no joy. Have set my desktop as described and laptop as well.have gone into network tree and have showing discovery on--file sharing on but printer sharing is off. So I go to add printer and it searches for a while but does not find one.Cant follow what stevethegas suggests

[Rik]

Is there a setting anywhere to turn printer sharing on, Henry? Can you actually open a file on the desktop from the laptop?

[henryp]

What is showing is something called microsoft xps document writer

[Rik]

That's a 'soft' printer driver which suggests you have Microsoft Office installed? It's function is to convert a document to an XPS file.

[henryp]

When I go into the network tree  down to printer then click on add printer it,s coming up with a warning saying you do not have administrative rights but I,m the only user This vista is doing me no good

[Rik]

I'm right out of my depth here, Henry, as I've avoided Vista like the plague. My guess is you need to give yourself administrator status - but wait for someone who knows what they're talking about to come along.

[henryp]

I'm right out of my depth here, Henry, as I've avoided Vista like the plague. My guess is you need to give yourself administrator status - but wait for someone who knows what they're talking about to come along.

Sorry for the confusion but last post should have read you do not have sufficient rights to perform this operation

Update. I have my desktop and laptop on same homelan. I have Network Discovery' is turned on as suggested so that is right. I have on the lappie with vista  gone into control panel and used classic view then right clicked on printer  and it shows as the microsoft xps document writer which has got a green tick on it but no other printer shows up 

Ric, As this thread is beginning to veer away from the hub topic please move it if necessary I await someone with vista ideas

[Steve]

I don't get it either as the only user on the laptop will have administrative rights in Vista,although these are not full rights due to UAC you can turn it off but should not be required I wonder if the error message is not telling the full story. 

If you go >start>network>desktop PC_name you should see the available shares on that PC. One should be the name of the shared desktop installed printer ,double clicking on that icon should install that printer it will ask permission to install some drivers.


If your not seeing any other available shares i.e shared documents there must be a network file sharing issue.

[henryp]

I don't get it either as the only user on the laptop will have administrative rights in Vista,although these are not full rights due to UAC you can turn it off but should not be required I wonder if the error message is not telling the full story. 

If you go >start>network>desktop PC_name you should see the available shares on that PC. One should be the name of the shared desktop installed printer ,double clicking on that icon should install that printer it will ask permission to install some drivers.


If your not seeing any other available shares i.e shared documents there must be a network file sharing issue.

Followed your instructions but still no joy. All I keep getting is you do not have sufficient rights to perform this operation whatever that is.I think I will leave off for a bit till I calm down 

[Rik]

It might be worth turning off UAC and see if you can then do it, Henry.

[Steve]

Can you see  any of the shared folders alongside the printer icon on the networked PC and can you access them?

The jpg shows my XP netbook shares from a vista PC don't worry about the different icons but can you access the shared docs folder?

[attachment deleted by admin]

[henryp]

No I can,t

[Rik]

Can you see the notebook from the desktop machine, Henry?

[henryp]

Sorry but I,m losing it now. How do I see from desktop

[Rik]

My Network Places > Entire network > Microsoft Windows Network. There should appear a workgroup name at that point, and if you double-click on it, it should expand to reveal all the computers currently connected to your LAN.

[henryp]

no network places on show

[Rik]

It sounds like the two machines are not in the same workgroup, and therefore, network, Henry. Do they share the same workgroup name, can you see them both from your router?

[Steve]

My Network Places > Entire network > Microsoft Windows Network. There should appear a workgroup name at that point, and if you double-click on it, it should expand to reveal all the computers currently connected to your LAN.

Looking at my XP netbook following the tree you should at least be able to see the machine that your are using under workgroup computers. Have you run on the XP machine the set up a home or small office network wizard.

[Lona]

Hi Henry

I had this problem when I changed to Vista.  You have to download the vista driver for whatever printer you have, then try sharing.

Make sure also that both pcs have the same workgroup name.  You should change workgroup in  Vista to MSHOME to match the xp machine or you won't be able to network.

[henryp]

Hi Henry

I had this problem when I changed to Vista.  You have to download the vista driver for whatever printer you have, then try sharing.

Make sure also that both pcs have the same workgroup name.  You should change workgroup in  Vista to MSHOME to match the xp machine or you won't be able to network.

I have been to the epson site and downloaded a twain printer driver  for vista and installed it ok. my desktop is xp and connected by usb cable to epson cx3200 all in one. Mt lappie is vista 32 bit and is connector to the bt hub through wireless(which works) Both are set up as workgroup mshome and printer sharing is on on desktop. No sign of my network places on desktop Or have I  totally lost it

[Steve]

You should see your laptop's shared folders from your desktop and vice versa. Have you run the setup home networking wizard on the xp desktop ( you don't need to transfer or copy any settings) My only other thoughts are possibly the firewall settings of both machines but as I understand it the "network setup" should resolve these issues. Are you running any third party firewall software? Firewall issues can be identified by temporarily disabling them to see if that solves the problem.

[LesD]

Hi Henry,

I may have missed some of the finer points in this thread but being a Vista user I am not one of its greatest fans and Sharing of any description, having been a doddle in XP, has had me baffled more than once with Vista.

Take a look at the picture I have attached below and make absolutely certain you have "Printer Sharing" On where it is shown in this screenshot from my machine or you will have absolutely no chance going by my experience.

Having "Public folder sharing" enabled here too is the simplest way I have found to share stuff round my home network to my other machines that still run XP Pro and will continue to do so until they break beyond repair and I have no choice other than to replace them with Vista machines!

I do have just one Workgroup as this is the way it was when all my machines were XP ones but I don't believe this is as critical with Vista but if the interface is other than Vista to Vista, it is certainly the safest way to proceed.

For me Vista is up itself with overly burdensome protection that makes it difficult to use as anything other than a Program Platform, my PP instead of a PC as I have been known to mention on more than one occasion. 

I had installed my HP C5280 c/w drivers on my Vista machine and also some time ago on the XP machine where it was previously hosted so I did not have the driver issue that others have mentioned. You would think by now Vista could provide drivers. It was a big issue early on but a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then and the bad press this matter generated at that time. 

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Steve]

Les My vista laptop is setup the same except printer sharing is off as it has no printer attached to it,it uses a networked printer on the Windows 2003 (WHS) server.However it has no trouble see the shares on an networked xp machine.

[LesD]

Les My vista laptop is setup the same except printer sharing is off as it has no printer attached to it,it uses a networked printer on the Windows 2003 (WHS) server.However it has no trouble see the shares on an networked xp machine.

I see what you mean. My Vista machine is a Desktop with the printer connected to it and I have it shared so that the other networked machines can see it when the Vista machine is on. One of the XP machines hosts another printer. When I get a chance I will check if it is shared and see if my Vista box can see it!

[henryp]

Hello, back again, still no joy. Followed the advice about on the desktop and let the wizard create the network on that machine. Do you think it might be my epson cx3200 that,s the problem? I,m giving this one last try later on THEN if no joy I,m giving up

[Rik]

Leave the printer to one side for a moment, Henry, can you see the shared documents folders from one machine on the other?

[henryp]

On desktop I have found network places but nothing in there.  Have checked both machines to see if the same group name is being used and that,s right and still can,t see the shared computers

[Steve]

Henry .Do have the same username on the laptop as on the desktop?

If we look at the Vista laptop if you start>network can you see an icon for your laptop? If you can click just to the right of workgroup box it should give you the option to select "your workgroup" If you can see this the laptop is set up correctly.

If not check Les's attachment earlier concerning Network and sharing Center it should look similar with regard Access ,Nework discovery, File sharing etc. Printer sharing does not have to be enabled as you've not got a printer directly attached to the laptop

[henryp]

Yes I can see the workgroup name as MSHOME as the same on both and yes the screen is exactly as in that screen

[Simon]

I don't want to interject and confuse things, but do you have a software firewall on either machine, Henry?  Some need to be told to allow File and Printer Sharing.

[henryp]

I don't want to interject and confuse things, but do you have a software firewall on either machine, Henry?  Some need to be told to allow File and Printer Sharing.

Yes, on main desktop firewall is set to allow  File and Printer Sharing. On laptop it came with a trial of macafee firewall. Don't know about that so for testing purposes I have temporarily turned it off

[Steve]

Not a 2 wire user but can anyone else recall any additional setup requirements for file and printer sharing on LAN?

[Simon]

Not that I can recall, Steve, as long as both computers can be 'seen' by the 2700 in the network.

I wonder if the McAfee firewall might have been blocking Henry's laptop?

[henryp]

Update. On desktop I have found my network places and on clicking it opens up to public on my Mynotebook. Clicking on that opens up documents/ downloads/favourites/music/pictures/videos.Am I getting somewhere at last But still cant share my printer which was my main goal

[Rik]

Whereabouts are you, Henry? This is one of those "If I could see your machines..." kind of problems.

[henryp]

I want to thank everyone that has tried to help me on this BUT I,m calling it a day for the time being
as it,s beginning to take me over.

Thanks to all

[Rik]

Understood, Henry, these things can quickly dominate our days and sometimes it's best just to stand back for a while.

[dudwell]

As a computer ignoramus I hardly dare to intervene here but remember the struggle I had a while ago to get media sharing to work between my PC and Roberts internet radio?

I learned eventually that from each fresh start it can take anything from "instant" up to an (estimated) 3-4 minutes before the PC and radio will find each other. I think I was sometimes concluding that nothing was sharing when all might have been OK if only I'd waited longer. Is it conceivable that something similar could be frustrating Henry? 

[LesD]

When I get a chance I will check if it is shared and see if my Vista box can see it!

OK this evening I checked that the old HP840C on the XP Pro box my wife uses was shared and it was.
Next I went to "Printers" from the "Start" button on the Vista machine and used the "Add a printer" button.
The HP840C showed up as a "networked printer" so I accepted it and was prompted to install the appropriate driver, which Vista found and installed for me. I took the option to print a test page and print it did OK.
I am a 2Wire 2700 user and am sure I have no special settings to allow printer sharing in it.
In the Vista Security Centre I have the Firewall "On", the Malware protection "On" (This in my case is PREVX CSI) and Other security setting "On" (This being the recommended levels for Internet Security and UAC On).
Vista also runs Windows Defender so none of these thing prevent my Vista machine seeing the printer on the XP machine.

I have seen dudwell's post and what he says rings true with me. I have a recollection that maybe the first time round detecting shared device from Vista can take a longer than expected time. (Back on one of my hobby horse's about Vista of too much mamsy-pamsy protection slowing things down beyond the reasonable!) Have I mentioned that within family circles I have coined a new word for things that don't work in the way they did or that you could reasonably expect in Vista. Now my Vista mysteries are know as Visteries! Do you reckon it will make into the dictionary


Henry try sharing files using the Public folders. This way you will be able to settle the fact that things will share but make sure you enable the "Public folder sharing" as shown in the screenshot I attached last evening.

BTW

I,m calling it a day for the time being
as it,s beginning to take me over.

I can quite understand where you are coming from. Vista has had me contemplating a lie down in a darkened room on a number of occasions! 

[Rik]

Thanks Les and Dud.