Wireless and printerless!

Matthusala · 04-07-2006, 12:32 PM

First of all can I say Hi to everyone.

My problem is a neighbour who is always willing to help me out with a problem… the thing is, he’s having trouble getting his children’s laptops to access his printer when they are doing their homework and has asked me for assistance in sorting it out. I have no idea where to start, as I’ve never needed to do this before. I’d hate to be a defeatist and tell him I can’t help him out. So I’ll give you as much information as I can and leave it in you capable hands.

He signed up to Btbroadband, set-up and is using a BT Voyager 2091 Wireless ADSL Router and he has it set-up ‘Wirelessly’. He bought a wireless printer and has connected effortlessly to his wireless laptop and all are working beautifully.

He then bought both his children a laptop each and has set them up wirelessly to surf the Internet. No problems at all.

The problem:

Although he can access his printer from his wireless laptop, the other 2 wireless laptops can’t.

What do we have to do so that all the laptops can use the printer independently?

Also, could they access the printer without his laptop being turned on?

My cheeks are turning red through embarrassment because I know it will probably be something simple like have you ticked a box somewhere.

I hope this all makes sense and thank you in advance for not sniggering out loud.

**Terrister** · 04-08-2006, 11:47 AM

Please provide the printers make/model #.

Matthusala · 04-08-2006, 03:38 PM

Thank you for replying.

The offending printer is a Brother DCP 340 CW.

**Terrister** · 04-08-2006, 06:23 PM

Did he load the cd that came with the printer on the 1st computer? Has he tried this on the other 2?
The 1st laptop does not have to be on for the others to print.
Are you getting any errors or messages on the other non printing computers?

Matthusala · 04-09-2006, 06:09 AM

He's loaded the drivers on all the laptops.

There was a message about the drivers not having a signature (Microsoft) but the website of the Brother printer and the box it came in all said XP compatible. If you hover the mouse over the printer icon on the task bar of the other 2 laptops it says ' No Device'.

**Terrister** · 04-11-2006, 09:19 AM

Try right clicking on the working laptop printer icon and go to properties. Click on the port tab. See what port the working printer is using and go to the others and see if it is set up the same way.

04-07-2006, 12:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
Matthusala Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 7 OS: xp	Wireless and printerless! First of all can I say Hi to everyone. My problem is a neighbour who is always willing to help me out with a problem… the thing is, he’s having trouble getting his children’s laptops to access his printer when they are doing their homework and has asked me for assistance in sorting it out. I have no idea where to start, as I’ve never needed to do this before. I’d hate to be a defeatist and tell him I can’t help him out. So I’ll give you as much information as I can and leave it in you capable hands. He signed up to Btbroadband, set-up and is using a BT Voyager 2091 Wireless ADSL Router and he has it set-up ‘Wirelessly’. He bought a wireless printer and has connected effortlessly to his wireless laptop and all are working beautifully. He then bought both his children a laptop each and has set them up wirelessly to surf the Internet. No problems at all. The problem: Although he can access his printer from his wireless laptop, the other 2 wireless laptops can’t. What do we have to do so that all the laptops can use the printer independently? Also, could they access the printer without his laptop being turned on? My cheeks are turning red through embarrassment because I know it will probably be something simple like have you ticked a box somewhere. I hope this all makes sense and thank you in advance for not sniggering out loud.

04-08-2006, 11:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	Please provide the printers make/model #. __________________

04-08-2006, 06:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	Did he load the cd that came with the printer on the 1st computer? Has he tried this on the other 2? The 1st laptop does not have to be on for the others to print. Are you getting any errors or messages on the other non printing computers? __________________

04-09-2006, 06:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
Matthusala Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 7 OS: xp	He's loaded the drivers on all the laptops. There was a message about the drivers not having a signature (Microsoft) but the website of the Brother printer and the box it came in all said XP compatible. If you hover the mouse over the printer icon on the task bar of the other 2 laptops it says ' No Device'. Last edited by Matthusala; 04-09-2006 at 06:10 AM.

04-11-2006, 09:19 AM	#6 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	Try right clicking on the working laptop printer icon and go to properties. Click on the port tab. See what port the working printer is using and go to the others and see if it is set up the same way. __________________

04-08-2006, 03:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
Matthusala Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 7 OS: xp	Thank you for replying. The offending printer is a Brother DCP 340 CW.