How do I network 2 computers so that they can share 1 printer

Hello,

My wife and I both have a desktop computer with Windows XP Pro. We connect
to the internet thru an ADSL router. I would now like to set up a mini
network between our computers so that we can share our colour laser printer.
I have followed the steps as described in the set up a network section and
created a set up disk which has been run on both our computers but it does
not work. What am I doing wrong, or what am I omitting?

Regards,

Bard Vos

Bard wrote:

Hello,

My wife and I both have a desktop computer with Windows XP Pro. We
connect to the internet thru an ADSL router. I would now like to set
up a mini network between our computers so that we can share our
colour laser printer. I have followed the steps as described in the
set up a network section and created a set up disk which has been run
on both our computers but it does not work. What am I doing wrong, or
what am I omitting?


Here are some links to help you. The network troubleshooter by MVP
Hans-Georg Michna is a good starting place.

http://www.michna.com/kb/wxnet.htm
http://www.bcmaven.com/networking/faq.htm
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/...ilesharing.htm (Home)
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/...ring/index.htm
(Pro)
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/...hoot_index.htm
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/howto/

Malke
--
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"

On Tue, 7 Dec 2004 07:19:06 -0800, "Bard" Bard @discussions.microsoft.com
wrote:

Hello,

My wife and I both have a desktop computer with Windows XP Pro. We connect
to the internet thru an ADSL router. I would now like to set up a mini
network between our computers so that we can share our colour laser printer.
I have followed the steps as described in the set up a network section and
created a set up disk which has been run on both our computers but it does
not work. What am I doing wrong, or what am I omitting?

Regards,

Bard Vos

Bard,

The network setup wizard is great when it works, but when it doesn't, it's not
useful at all. Rather than trying to figure out what went wrong, let's try and
figure out where you are, and go from there.

How does the printer connect - is it a local printer on one of your computers?
Or is it connected directly to your router (make and model please?)? Also the
make and model of the printer might be useful.

Sharing a printer is part of File and Printer Sharing, so get file sharing
working first. File and Printer Sharing requires a number of network
components, all of this should be done by the wizard, but we're going to have to
recheck everything.

Please provide ipconfig information for each computer, to start.
Start - Run - "cmd". Type "ipconfig /all c:\ipconfig.txt" into the command
window - Open c:\ipconfig.txt in Notepad, copy and paste entire contents into
your next post. Identify operating system (by name, version, and SP level) with
each ipconfig listing.

Are you running both Client for Microsoft Networks, and File and Printer Sharing
for Microsoft Networks (Local Area Connection - Properties), on each computer?
Do you have shares setup on each?

Are you running NetBIOS Over TCP/IP (Local Area Connection - Properties - TCP/IP
- Properties - Advanced - WINS) on each computer?

Make sure the browser service is running on one computer. Control Panel -
Administrative Tools - Services. Verify that the Computer Browser, and the
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper, services both show with Status = Started.

On any XP Pro computer, check to see if Simple File Sharing (Control Panel -
Folder Options - View - Advanced settings) is enabled or disabled. With XP Pro,
you need to have SFS consistently set on each computer.

On XP Pro with SFS disabled, check the Local Security Policies (Control Panel -
Administrative Tools). Under Local Policies - Security Options, look at
"Network access: Sharing and security model", and ensure it's set to "Classic -
local users authenticate as themselves".

On XP Pro with SFS disabled, if you set the above Local Security Policy to
"Guest only", enable the Guest account, using Start - Run - "cmd" - type "net
user guest /active:yes" in the command window. If "Classic", setup and use a
common non-Guest account on all computers. Whichever account is used, give it
an identical, non-blank password on all computers.

On XP Pro with Simple File Sharing enabled, make sure that the Guest account is
enabled, on each computer. Enable Guest with Start - Run - "cmd", then type
"net user guest /active:yes" in the command window.

On XP Pro, if you're going to use Guest authentication, check your Local
Security Policy (Control Panel - Administrative Tools) - User Rights Assignment,
on the XP Pro computer, and look at "Deny access to this computer from the
network". Make sure Guest is not in the list.

Do any of the computers have a software firewall (ICF / WF, or third party)? If
so, you need to configure them for file sharing. Firewall configurations are a
very common cause of (network) browser, and file sharing, problems.

--
Cheers,
Chuck
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

In article ,
"Bard" Bard @discussions.microsoft.com wrote:
Hello,

My wife and I both have a desktop computer with Windows XP Pro. We connect
to the internet thru an ADSL router. I would now like to set up a mini
network between our computers so that we can share our colour laser printer.
I have followed the steps as described in the set up a network section and
created a set up disk which has been run on both our computers but it does
not work. What am I doing wrong, or what am I omitting?

Regards,

Bard Vos

Tell the Network Setup Wizard that the computers connect to the
Internet through a residential gateway (router). Other connection
options will block networking between them.

If the computers have a firewall program installed (Norton, McAfee,
ZoneAlarm, eTrust, Panda, Trend Micro PCCillin, etc), make sure that
it's configured to allow access on the local area network.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com