[rodb]

For some reason I keep losing printer connection with ethernet. I tried to delete and reinstall with no problem, but when I restart computer then connection is lost. Both are running xp pro, and print sharing is enabled.

 

[Cougarman]

Tell us a little more. It is a network printer connected to a switch w/ ethernet cable? If it is networked, does it have a static address or dynamic? Or you have 2 PC's w/ XP and one station is sharing a printer? Is the shared printer a USB or parallel?? Do you have both PC's in the same workgroup?

 

[rodb]

Tell us a little more. It is a network printer connected to a switch w/ ethernet cable? If it is networked, does it have a static address or dynamic? Or you have 2 PC's w/ XP and one station is sharing a printer? Is the shared printer a USB or parallel?? Do you have both PC's in the same workgroup?

Connected with ethernet cable only, with dynamic, have 4 pcs all sharing one printer, printer is usb, and all 4 pcs are in same workgroup. Never had this problem in past.

 

[Cougarman]

Sounds like you have one of those little printer server boxes like I have at home. It allows a usb printer to be networked. USB/RJ45 thingie.

Mine has occasional trouble too. I just cycle the power on the little printer server, and it comes back online. No need to "reinstall" on each PC. Then I just go ahead and print my stuff.

The first thing I would do is assign a static address to the print server. Yes, I know the dhcp address tends to stay there but just make it a static.

Also, how is it you connect each XP station to the printer? Do use the \\server\printer type of path, or did you set a "standard tcp/ip" type of port at each PC??

 

[rodb]

Sorry if I misled, as I don't have a print server, the computer I am having trouble with is connected via ethernet cable to main computer which has the printer attached by usb cable.

 

[Cougarman]

Oh. That's what I meant in my original questions (post #2). This "main computer" has a usb printer attached, which is being shared -- in other words -- if you look at the printers folder it has the "sharing hand" on that printer icon...so it's being shared via Windows.

Let me just get us on the same page before proceeding...

 

[rodb]

Yes, they are shared.

 

[Cougarman]

You realize that when that "main computer" - the one that hosts the print share - gets shut down, no one is able to print. That PC must be on all the time basically.

1)
Other than that, check the Windows Firewall on it. Is File and Print checked on in the list of Exceptions?

2)
Open My Computer
Tools
Folder Options
View tab
Scroll to the bottom of that list
Uncheck "Use simple file sharing"

I hope this will help. Sorry for all the questions.

 

[rodb]

Yes to all questions, very strange that I can add printer and print untill I restart computer.

 

[rodb]

Still no luck, any more suggestions ?:4-dontkno

 

[Receng56]

Still no luck, any more suggestions ?:4-dontkno

What Firewall software are you using?

 

[rodb]

Windows firewall only