printer again

[Baz]

cant find the last post about this from me but I have my new printer installed or so I thought,it prints fine but when I try to print from a laptop via the wireless side of it,it will only work when my main system is turned on.

I think I had the same trouble with the last printer i had and got it sorted eventually but cant seem to get this one to work

[Rik]

How's the printer connected, Baz. It sounds like you may have used USB and shared the printer from the main machine.

[Baz]

had the same trouble last time Rik.

Its connected only to the power supply,wireless is set up and it will print from my system and from laptops when mine is turned on.

Mine is connected to the router and thats it.Printer is marked as shared

[Rik]

If it's a networked printer, Baz, it shouldn't me marked as shared, that's only used when you allow printers connected to your machine to be used by others on the network. In the case of a networked printer, you install the driver directly onto each machine and use the 'network' option for connection.

[Baz]

so how should I have it set up to let the laptops print wireless,which is a main reason for getting it,and to print from my main system which isnt wireless BTW,forgot to say that

[Rik]

So how is the printer connected to your main system, Baz?

[Baz]

at the moment its not physically connected but will print via wireless so i'm guessing its through the router,which is hard wired to mine.

[Baz]

in the router settings the printer is in the Wireless Station Access List,shows in the 'Attached Devices' list and has its own IP address in the 'Address Reservation' list.

all this was how my last one was set up and it worked for the laptops.The only difference if I remember correctly was  last time my system was USB'd to the printer,this one isnt.when setting it up the instructions said to remove the USB lead now the wireless side was complete   

[Rik]

The printer needs to be talking to the router, which it can do wirelessly, the main computer can then talk to the printer via ethernet and the router. Remove sharing on the main machine, then delete the printer from the laptops and re-install it as a wireless network printer, not a shared one.

[Baz]

ok will try that Rik Thanks.

have just printed a doc on wifes laptop so it does work wireless,like   I say when mine is on.


when you say   'delete the printer from the laptops and re-install it as a wireless network printer, not a shared one.'  do you mean re install on main or laptops,sorry if its a daft question


I hate networks  


oh and when installing on laptops should it pick up the printer and drivers itself or do I need to use the disc on each install

[Rik]

Unshare it on the main, Baz, a networked printer should never be shared, then delete and re--install it on the laptops. My guess is that the laptops have found the printer by talking to your main machine during installation, so it might be a good idea to turn that off for the duration.

[Lance]

I can't add to what Rik has advised. The printer should be set up on each machine by having it find the printer direct on the network.

[Baz]

I think I got it now,cheers Rik and  Lance.Had to install the drivers from disc as it just would not find it by itself,dont know if thats right or not but have tried a few prints while mine was shut down and it seems ok.Will keep an eye on it  

[Rik]

Yes, that's right, Baz, you treat each machine as a separate installation.

[pctech]

There is such a thing as click and print but this requires a machine running Windows Server to co-ordinate the driver download.

[zappaDPJ]

This topic has raised a question in my mind. Do all modern printers come with a network connection? The last time I bought a decent printer for my network it was network specific and cost an arm and a leg. Needless to say it now belongs in a museum, hence my question.

[pctech]

The Brother laser I bouyght about 12 months ago only has a USB connector.

It's still the case that network printers are specific and often have an integrated HDD.

[Rik]

Not all, Zap, but an increasing number do. My HP laser is ethernet or USB connected, my HP Photosmart is ethernet, uSB, Bluetooth or wifi connected. It's quite funny telling people to pair their mobiles with my printer from downstairs, and then presenting them with the printed output.

[zappaDPJ]

Thanks for the confirmation, I'll keep that in mind when I go looking

[Lance]

Certainly most of the mid to high end hp printers have networking built in.