posted
Okay, my husband has a desktop computer with a scanner and printer attached. It's hardwired to the modem through a Linksys wireless router (it's not a wireless computer).
I have a laptop connected to the wireless router with a Linksys network card. It also has a printer attached to the docking station. That means I have to go put the computer on the dock to print anything. I can't figure out how to make it use his, nor can I figure out how to simply network the two computers so we can share files without email.
We also recently acquired another laptop which will be set up in the living room for the kids. It'll be equipped with a network card as well. I'd like to be able to print from this computer as well.
Okay...so for Christmas I'll be getting a new printer/scanner/fax/copier. It'll need to go in the computer room because of the phone line, but he doesn't want it hooked up to his computer.
I'm sick of having to get up and go dock this thing just to print a page. So do I get one of those special wireless printer thingies so I can put the printer wherever I'd like? Do I tell him to suck it up and let me hook it to his? Would it be easier to install an extra phone line near my computer dock and just keep doing what I've been doing? Or install one in the living room and just network the two laptops?
posted
You can't find or use a resource on another computer on your network unless the person controlling that computer has 'Shared' it. If your husband designates his Printer as a 'Shared' Printer, then you should be able to find it on the network and use it.
The same it true of file storage areas. You have to designate some 'area' (folder, drive, directory) on a computer as 'Shared' before other people can access it.
posted
First off, it'll simplify things for you enormously if you get at least one copy of XP Pro in the house. That said, you can still network the machines together in what's called a "peer-to-peer" arrangement, provided you assign them to the same workgroup. I can give you more information if you want, but the Microsoft wizard for this is actually pretty good already.
For goodness sake, though, make sure you don't turn on file sharing without ensuring that you've got decent AV software on your PCs and a hardware firewall on your router.
Secondly, the reason you cannot print to your printer when the laptop is removed is that your printer isn't actually connected to the network. It's connected to your docking station, which connects it to the laptop when the laptop is docked -- and which, in turn, then connects to your network.
If you want your printer to always be available, you have three options:
1) If the printer has its own network port and controller, connect it directly to the network. If it was an inexpensive printer, it is unlikely that your printer has this feature.
2) Connect the printer to a computer that is always on and always connected to the network.
3) Buy a USB-based "print server." These usually cost around $79. One end plugs directly into the printer; the other connects -- depending on model -- to an Ethernet jack or a wireless network. The "server" pretends to be another computer on your network, and since it doesn't turn off, your printer remains continuously available.
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Boon
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posted
Okay, I got the wireless card for the other laptop, and I managed to get the two laptops to share files. I still can't get the other one to print on this printer though.
I enabled printer sharing, the other laptop sees it there, but it fails to print. Troubleshooter is a POS and doesn't help.
Printer-friendly view of this topic
