Hey guys...just a quick question...not familiar with networking...I just got a laptop and a wirless router...I was wondering how I can print off the printer in computer room wirelessly...I know I can google it, but you guys are a lot cooler about it and explain it better....

11/27/2006 7:47:56 PM

are you talking about having a printer hooked up to another computer on the network, or have a printer sitting in another room with no computer hooked up to it.

the first is easy, the second needs a wireless print server.



something like this, but maybe not this model. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=714267&CatId=371

[Edited on November 27, 2006 at 8:32 PM. Reason : ]

11/27/2006 8:30:09 PM

It's hooked into a computer already...

11/27/2006 8:32:23 PM

just search for network printers

my computer has always found them

11/27/2006 8:42:53 PM

attn wolfweb: can u please refresh my memory as to why i remember joisey devils sn...i know there had to be some kinda wolfweb fiasco with that name...i remember it from way back when i started tww i think(spring 04)

11/27/2006 8:50:27 PM

not to hijack the thread or anything, but i've got a problem that's kinda related

Ok so I'm sharing a printer over my network much like she is trying to do, but I had to reinstall the drivers on the computer (desktop) that it is hooked to. Now my laptop won't let me delete, re-add or print to the printer. I keep getting an error message saying it can't remove the connection. How do I delete this printer on my laptop? I've tried stopping the print spooler, restarting, deleting it in the registry, all kinds of crap.

11/27/2006 10:58:12 PM

Two ways to print to a printer:

1) It has an Ethernet (i.e. internet) cable plugged into it, similar to your desktop or laptop. This isn't too common with home printers unless you bought a really nice one.

2) It is physically hooked up to a computer somewhere. In this scenario, the computer it is hooked up to must be turned on. Then you need to setup both your laptop and that computer to talk to each other, so your laptop can print to the printer using that computer. Google "File and Print Sharing" for more info (or somebody else fill in the details).

11/28/2006 3:54:10 AM

^ 2 other, even less common ways-

3) It has built in wireless connectivity (bluetooth or wifi) and will have to be configured to log onto your wireless network or selected through your computer's bluetooth configuration (if you have bluetooth of course.) I guess technically bluetooth wouldn't really be sharing since each computer would have to connect to the printer on its own terms.

4) It is connected to a wireless or wired print-server. These are generally either way overpriced or extremely shitty and would either have to be physically connected or configured for your network. I have had some god-awful experiences buying cheap print servers. Had one that had 2 USB ports which was perfect since I had a color photo printer I used occaisionally for graphs and stuff and a black and white workhorse laser printer. The idea of being able to leave those in my network closet and print from my laptop or any of the other computers anywhere in the house was appealing. Too bad that printing from one printer, then another required you reset the computer, print server, and shut off the unwanted printer. Yay for 10 dollar hardware. I've had better luck with some salvaged (dorm dumptser diving I'm not too proud to admit) apple airport express access points. Can't beleive some of the shit people at state toss.

I'm sure you didn't mention these since so few people use these options they're not really worth mentioning. Personally, I'd like to see more wifi enabled printers appearing. Bluetooth is cool and all, but wifi has a longer range and if you have an existing network... why not use it right?


As far as printer sharing on networks goes, everything tends to be smoother if the computers are using the same OS and on the same workgroup. That's not required though, windows just finds the printers faster. If you're printing from an ME (why god why) machine to an XP machine you may have to install a driver on the ME machine. Not sure though, it's been a long time since I finally wiped the last trace of that OS from any of the computers I use.


[Edited on November 28, 2006 at 8:12 AM. Reason : ]

11/28/2006 8:04:06 AM

Quote :

"Now my laptop won't let me delete, re-add or print to the printer. I keep getting an error message saying it can't remove the connection"

File and Print Sharing in Windows is really messy and non-intuitive to manually setup (automatically can screw up your computers).

1) Verify your drivers are correct, 32-bit and 64-bit drivers are not the same as one example. Manually hook up computer #2 to the printer and try to print directly to it, not using file and print sharing.

2) Verify the computer with the printer attached to it is receiving traffic from the computer trying to print. (Check your Windows Firewall logs ... make sure drops / successful connections are logged). If not, open appropriate ports in each computer's firewall and your router.

3) Verify network permissions and account permissions are correct for file and print sharing. You may need to screw with Guest/Anonymous access in Local Security Settings (Start, Run, secpol.msc).

Start with that and report back.

11/28/2006 3:33:27 PM

Everybody else on my network can print fine so it's not the desktop or the printer that is the problem. It's something messed up with how the printer is set up on my laptop.

11/28/2006 3:54:16 PM

anybody have any other ideas?

11/29/2006 9:10:38 PM

Any other ideas on how to delete a network printer that has lost the connection to the server? It won't let me delete, print to it or add a new printer.

If I try to delete it, I just get operation could not be completed.

[Edited on December 4, 2006 at 11:28 AM. Reason : error]

12/4/2006 11:27:17 AM