Sharing a Printer

jayzinho · 11-26-2007, 09:51 AM

Hi, I am trying to share a printer over my home network, but I can't get it to work.

The computer with the printer attached to it has Windows 98. All other computers in my house having Windows XP.

On the Win 98 PC I have gone to Control Panel > Network > File and Print Sharing > ticked both checkboxes enabling file and printer sharing

Where do I go from here?

Thanks,

Jay

**johnwill** · 11-26-2007, 01:02 PM

Personally, I'd suggest connecting the printer to an XP machine, makes sharing Oh so much easier.

jayzinho · 11-27-2007, 02:50 AM

johnwill, that is exactly what I'd like to do, but it isn't possible. The Win 98 machine is somebody elses computer, who uses it for work and it's not practical to change PC's around.

Is it impossible to achieve a printer share here? It the only working printer in the house at the moment, and it would be really useful to get it to work..

any ideas?

**johnwill** · 11-27-2007, 07:04 AM

I think it's possible, though I confess to having never done it.

First off, when you browse the network, can you find the W98 machine? If so, can you find the shared printer name? If both of those answers are yes, try this.

Install the printer drivers on XP as if it's a local printer.

In the properties of the printer, add a new local port and use the full network path name to the printer, i.e. //computer_name/printer_name

See if that helps.

jayzinho · 11-27-2007, 08:33 AM

Thanks johnwill, I did find the Win 98 machine and printer name on the network and tried to install the driver as if it were a local printer, but it says that I have to make sure all the cables are attached properly - so the printer has to be connected to the XP machine before I can install the driver. I even tried to get the driver from the manufacturer website but I got the same problem. So I guess I'll have to attach the printer to my XP machine just to install the driver and then move it back... unless you can think of any other way around it????

**johnwill** · 11-27-2007, 05:56 PM

No problem, connect the printer to the XP machine for the install. Then you can change the port as described above and move the printer back to the W98 machine. I had to do this for one of my Vista machines and the HP PSC-750.

11-26-2007, 09:51 AM	#1 (permalink)
jayzinho Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 84 OS: win xp sp2	Sharing a Printer Hi, I am trying to share a printer over my home network, but I can't get it to work. The computer with the printer attached to it has Windows 98. All other computers in my house having Windows XP. On the Win 98 PC I have gone to Control Panel > Network > File and Print Sharing > ticked both checkboxes enabling file and printer sharing Where do I go from here? Thanks, Jay

11-26-2007, 01:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,832 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Sharing a Printer Personally, I'd suggest connecting the printer to an XP machine, makes sharing Oh so much easier. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

11-27-2007, 02:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
jayzinho Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 84 OS: win xp sp2	Re: Sharing a Printer johnwill, that is exactly what I'd like to do, but it isn't possible. The Win 98 machine is somebody elses computer, who uses it for work and it's not practical to change PC's around. Is it impossible to achieve a printer share here? It the only working printer in the house at the moment, and it would be really useful to get it to work.. any ideas?

11-27-2007, 07:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,832 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Sharing a Printer I think it's possible, though I confess to having never done it. First off, when you browse the network, can you find the W98 machine? If so, can you find the shared printer name? If both of those answers are yes, try this. Install the printer drivers on XP as if it's a local printer. In the properties of the printer, add a new local port and use the full network path name to the printer, i.e. //computer_name/printer_name See if that helps. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

11-27-2007, 08:33 AM	#5 (permalink)
jayzinho Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 84 OS: win xp sp2	Re: Sharing a Printer Thanks johnwill, I did find the Win 98 machine and printer name on the network and tried to install the driver as if it were a local printer, but it says that I have to make sure all the cables are attached properly - so the printer has to be connected to the XP machine before I can install the driver. I even tried to get the driver from the manufacturer website but I got the same problem. So I guess I'll have to attach the printer to my XP machine just to install the driver and then move it back... unless you can think of any other way around it???? Last edited by jayzinho; 11-27-2007 at 08:36 AM.

11-27-2007, 05:56 PM	#6 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,832 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Re: Sharing a Printer No problem, connect the printer to the XP machine for the install. Then you can change the port as described above and move the printer back to the W98 machine. I had to do this for one of my Vista machines and the HP PSC-750. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience