Network Set Up And Printer Sharing

I have a home network, recently set up. Home computer has XP home, with HP psc 950,4 in 1, and netgear router all attached to it. High speed internet connection. After a tough time installing the router and getting all settings set on XP and laptop, it's finally working. Laptop is Acer Aspire 4720Z with Vista Home Premium. I'm trying to solve problems with printer sharing with the laptop. I have run the network set up wizards on both computers, downloaded something called LLTD onto XP.
Network map on Vista does not show XP
Network and sharing on Vista shows printer sharing is not enabled, is greyed out, cannot change
Xp has printer and file sharing enabled
HP site says driver for 4 in 1 is already installed on Vista
I don't know what else to do to fix these issues, all suggestions in Help and Support have been done. I never expected this to be so hard to accomplish. I'm hoping I have posted this correctly and have been as clear as I can in describing the problems.

 

Hi CarolsSis.Welcome to CHF.
I suggest you wait for someone more experienced than I in this area to give you advice.
Ask you to be patient for a short time.

 

Hi,

Is the printer connected to the XP machine by cable and are you trying to print wirelessly from the laptop ?

This does not need to be enabled on the laptop.

In Network and Sharing - click on "View Computers and Devices" ( top left under Tasks)
You should see your laptop name and the XP computer name listed as icons - do you ?

 

Yes, the printer is cabled to XP and I want to share it wirelessly with laptop. The network/sharing center, shows laptop, router and internet, not computer with XP.

 

Having taken a brief look at the specs for that printer it seems that it may not support a network connection and shows no indication that it is wifi enabled. Perhaps I have looked at the wrong machine?

 

What you are trying to do will only work if the XP machine is switched on and running Windows.

On the XP machine check that the default printer is shared.
Control Panel > Printers
Right click on the default icon > Sharing > Check the box "Share this Printer" > Give the printer a name
(Make a note of this)

Still on XP:
Control Panel > Network Connection > Local Area Connection > Properties
Make sure that "file and print sharing" is checked

Still on XP:
You need to know the name given to the XP machine
Right click My Computer > Properties > Computer Name
Make a note of "Full Computer Name"

On the Laptop
check that the drivers for the default printer are installed.
This will need to be Vista Drivers for your printer


1. On the laptop
Control Panel > Printers > Add Printer

2. Select Add Local Printer ( NOT Network Printer) > Click Next

3. Select Create a New Port (leave the default in the drop down selection as Local Port) > Click Next

4. Windows displays a dialogue box asking a port name.
Type in .....

\\Host name\printer name

Host name - is the name of the XP desktop ( from previous instruction )
Printer Name - is the name you gave to the shared printer in XP ( see previous instructions )

so what you type should look something like the following:
\\MyXPmachine\HPprinter
(Be aware that this section is case sensitive.)

Click OK

Please make sure that you follow each stage carefully

Try printing from the laptop now.

 

Thanks so much for the detailed instructions. I made sure I wrote them all down, so I can follow them correctly. I had been wondering if that was an issue, from reading something in the help support on XP. It seems like the more I read, the less I understand, sometimes. I think it's information overload, especially since I don't understand most of it.
I noticed that the Vista computer says it is Workgroup>Workgroup, and Xp is Workgroup>MSHOME, so I wonder if this is something I need to change also? Thanks so much!

 

Followed instructions, printer was already named "printer2". print and file sharing was enabled. Named computer "desktop".
Plugged printer into laptop to get driver to install, sucessful. On Control Panel, printers, add printer, I had chosen wrong printer, network. I re-read your post, and it is now installed correctly. Test page printed out just fine. Thanks again, it's been weeks of trying to get this to work.

 

Glad to hear that you have it working now.

I find that my system occasionally messes up and I cant print wirelessly.
If I follow the proceedure to "Add Local Printer" this corrects it

Good Luck.