Not sure where to post this....

cc103 · 09-18-2007, 02:29 PM

but here is the deal. I have 2 old HP Laserjet printers that are networked to about 30 Dell laptops. For each of the 2 printers, I have a Win98 machine acting as the server.
Here's the problem. Whenever we print more that 2 documents at the same time, the printers get a memory overload. The servers do not have much memory at all, minimium at best. If I print a 1 page document that has an image in it, it takes about 2.5 to 3 minutes to print.
Here is my question. I have a WinXP machine that is not being used and I would like to use it and connect 1 or 2 new laser printers to it. Can I use 1 machine as the server for 2 printers? It has a large HDD and 512mb RAM.
Is this a workable project and can I get it to work with all of my laptops?
Thanks in advance.

kraftwerk · 09-19-2007, 12:33 PM

Hi,

Provided that you can work around the problem of 2 parallel ports - you didn't say what model of printers they are and how they are connected, but if they connect to Win98, I assume they are parallel - there shouldn't be a problem. Which version of XP does the "spare" box have? And what OS do the laptops run?

cc103 · 09-19-2007, 01:47 PM

The laptops run Win2K and there is a parallel port run from the printers to the back of the computers (2 printers thus 2 computers). There is also a hub or printer router that a Ethernet cable runs to from the back of the computers.
I would hope to have 2 USB ports instead of the parallel ports.
I just want to get 2 new printers and run them with one XP machine, I hope I can do that.

kraftwerk · 09-19-2007, 04:17 PM

Let's then have a look at the WinXP box. How many USB ports do you have? Rear and front? Also, the printers you want to connect to the WinXP PC - what make/model are they? Do they connect with parallel or USB?

cc103 · 09-19-2007, 05:26 PM

As far as the USB ports go: 1 in front, 4 in the back. The printers that I have looked at are the HP Laserjet 1000 series and they connect via USB.

**Terrister** · 09-19-2007, 08:00 PM

You should have no problem sharing 2 HP 1000's from 1 computer.

Just to make sure, please post the specs of the XP machine.

kraftwerk · 09-20-2007, 09:04 AM

Terrister has hit the nail on the head!

cc103 · 09-21-2007, 05:01 PM

Sorry it took a while to answer back. The XP machine was donated to my school and the parent informed me that the Motherboard was bad. I tried to get the machine to boot and it would go only so far and then stop so she let me have the recovery disks. I ran them and the machine is as good as new.
Now, I have not started the machine up in several weeks but it has 512mb RAM, I think it's a 200gb HDD but I'm not sure if it has SP1 or SP2.

**Terrister** · 09-24-2007, 06:53 AM

If it does not have SP2, it would be a good idea to load it. Otherwise I think it should work fine. The ram was the main thing I was concerned about.

09-18-2007, 02:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
cc103 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 65 OS: XP Home SP2	Not sure where to post this.... but here is the deal. I have 2 old HP Laserjet printers that are networked to about 30 Dell laptops. For each of the 2 printers, I have a Win98 machine acting as the server. Here's the problem. Whenever we print more that 2 documents at the same time, the printers get a memory overload. The servers do not have much memory at all, minimium at best. If I print a 1 page document that has an image in it, it takes about 2.5 to 3 minutes to print. Here is my question. I have a WinXP machine that is not being used and I would like to use it and connect 1 or 2 new laser printers to it. Can I use 1 machine as the server for 2 printers? It has a large HDD and 512mb RAM. Is this a workable project and can I get it to work with all of my laptops? Thanks in advance.

09-19-2007, 12:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
kraftwerk Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: East Sussex, UK Posts: 82 OS: Vista Home Premium 32-bit/Windows XP Pro SP2/Ubuntu 6.04 My System	Re: Not sure where to post this.... Hi, Provided that you can work around the problem of 2 parallel ports - you didn't say what model of printers they are and how they are connected, but if they connect to Win98, I assume they are parallel - there shouldn't be a problem. Which version of XP does the "spare" box have? And what OS do the laptops run? __________________ kraftwerk keeping local ict going

09-19-2007, 01:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
cc103 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 65 OS: XP Home SP2	Re: Not sure where to post this.... The laptops run Win2K and there is a parallel port run from the printers to the back of the computers (2 printers thus 2 computers). There is also a hub or printer router that a Ethernet cable runs to from the back of the computers. I would hope to have 2 USB ports instead of the parallel ports. I just want to get 2 new printers and run them with one XP machine, I hope I can do that.

09-19-2007, 04:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
kraftwerk Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: East Sussex, UK Posts: 82 OS: Vista Home Premium 32-bit/Windows XP Pro SP2/Ubuntu 6.04 My System	Re: Not sure where to post this.... Let's then have a look at the WinXP box. How many USB ports do you have? Rear and front? Also, the printers you want to connect to the WinXP PC - what make/model are they? Do they connect with parallel or USB? __________________ kraftwerk keeping local ict going

09-19-2007, 05:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
cc103 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 65 OS: XP Home SP2	Re: Not sure where to post this.... As far as the USB ports go: 1 in front, 4 in the back. The printers that I have looked at are the HP Laserjet 1000 series and they connect via USB.

09-19-2007, 08:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	Re: Not sure where to post this.... You should have no problem sharing 2 HP 1000's from 1 computer. Just to make sure, please post the specs of the XP machine. __________________

09-20-2007, 09:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
kraftwerk Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: East Sussex, UK Posts: 82 OS: Vista Home Premium 32-bit/Windows XP Pro SP2/Ubuntu 6.04 My System	Re: Not sure where to post this.... Terrister has hit the nail on the head! __________________ kraftwerk keeping local ict going

09-21-2007, 05:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
cc103 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 65 OS: XP Home SP2	Re: Not sure where to post this.... Sorry it took a while to answer back. The XP machine was donated to my school and the parent informed me that the Motherboard was bad. I tried to get the machine to boot and it would go only so far and then stop so she let me have the recovery disks. I ran them and the machine is as good as new. Now, I have not started the machine up in several weeks but it has 512mb RAM, I think it's a 200gb HDD but I'm not sure if it has SP1 or SP2.

09-24-2007, 06:53 AM	#9 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	Re: Not sure where to post this.... If it does not have SP2, it would be a good idea to load it. Otherwise I think it should work fine. The ram was the main thing I was concerned about. __________________