Set up a Home Network to Print from Wireless Laptop???

wackojackouk · 30 December 2005 at 9:08PM

Hi guys

I use my work laptop at home and use the wireless facilities of a Linksys WAG54G (ADSL Modem/Router) to access the web wirelessly (is that a proper word?)

Anyway I have rebuilt my old compaq desktop to play games such as the Sims & Championship Manager.

I have connected it with a network cable to my Linksys Kit so I can connect to the web and have also plugged in my USB C44UX Epson Printer to the desktop.

Can anyone tell me the easiest way I can print from my wireless laptop to this printer.

I guess I need to set up a home network but I am a bit confused as what to do.

I have already set up a wireless network called imaginatively "Wireless" when I originally configured the Linksys device but I think this is different to a "Home Network" or is this correct.

Hopefully I am explaining myself here as if I can get this to work I will upgrade the printer to a nice R300 or R340.

Thanks

WJUK

Toxteth_OGrady · 30 December 2005 at 9:13PM

Two choices:

If your printer is hooked up to your desktop, you can set it up as a shared printer, or

You can buy a print server (wired for about £30 if your printer is close to your router, or wireless for about £50 if your printer is a long way from your router).

The disadvantage of the first option is that your desktop would have to be 'always on' to allow printing from your laptop. For the second option this would be unnecessary.

:cool:

TOG

wackojackouk · 30 December 2005 at 9:19PM

Cheers TOG

I think the wireless print server option is best but that is a little down the line at the moment so for now I will share my printer.

Like I mentioned I haven't yet set-up a network through the desktop - the only thing I did was set up the wireless network which was done automatically through the linksys device.

Can you give me an idiots guide to what I need to do?

i.e. Set up Home Network through Desktop then thru laptop etc?

Thanks

WJUK

Toxteth_OGrady · 30 December 2005 at 9:22PM

Are you already connected to the internet via your router on the wireless laptop?

Are you already connected to the internet via your router on the desktop?

:cool:

TOG

wackojackouk · 30 December 2005 at 9:23PM

Toxteth_OGrady wrote:

Are you already connected to the internet via your router on the wireless laptop?

Are you already connected to the internet via your router on the desktop?

:cool:

TOG

Hi m8

Yes, Wireless Internet via Laptop

Yes, network cable in back of PC into router.

WJUK

Chippy_Minton · 30 December 2005 at 9:28PM

On the Desktop computer first make sure that the printer is shared: Start - Printers and Faxes - right-click the printer and select Sharing. The 'Share this printer' option should be selected.

Then on the wireless laptop, go into Printers and Faxes - Add a printer - choose 'Network printer, or a printer attached to another computer'. On the next screen choose 'Connect to this printer', leave the Name box blank, click Next and browse for the named printer.

Toxteth_OGrady · 30 December 2005 at 9:31PM

OK - so you already have a network set up. Don't need to change anything except set up your printer as a share. Follow the Chipster's excellent instructions.

:cool:

TOG

wackojackouk · 30 December 2005 at 9:44PM

Chippy_Minton wrote:

On the Desktop computer first make sure that the printer is shared: Start - Printers and Faxes - right-click the printer and select Sharing. The 'Share this printer' option should be selected.

Then on the wireless laptop, go into Printers and Faxes - Add a printer - choose 'Network printer, or a printer attached to another computer'. On the next screen choose 'Connect to this printer', leave the Name box blank, click Next and browse for the named printer.

Thanks m8. Although I couldn't get this to work.

I am running XP Pro on my laptop and home on my desktop.

I did the Desktop computer and it said about running the network wizard or giving me the option of bypassing which I did. This printer is now shared.

On my laptop however when I went into Printers & Faxes - Add a Printer. It goes to the printer wizard and then I have the local printer or the Network Printer option. It says underneath "To set up a printer that is not attached to a print server select local printer".

Anyway I selected network printer and got three options

1. Find a printer in the directory
2. Connect to this printer (or browse and click next)
Name (box)
3. Connect to a printer on a home/office network.
(url)

When I click next in either 2 or 3 I'm not sure what to put in as it says the following:

Option 2 - Has Microsoft Windows Network in the available printers box but I cannot select anything else - it then says not a valid name/

Option 3 - You need to specify a valid printer address.

Sorry for being such a dunce

WJUK

albertross_2 · 30 December 2005 at 9:53PM

The printer name would normally be

\\COMPAQPCNAME\SHAREDPRINTERNAME

e.g.

\\PC2\lexmarkorwhateveryoushareitas

try inputting this in option 2
(if you have a firewall installed on the compaq, this may possibly interfere with File and print sharing..)

tigermatt · 30 December 2005 at 9:55PM

The name will just be something like your computer name then the printer name: \\ComputerName\PrinterShareName.

tigermatt · 30 December 2005 at 9:57PM

You beat me to it!

albertross wrote:

The printer name would normally be

\\COMPAQPCNAME\SHAREDPRINTERNAME

e.g.

\\PC2\lexmarkorwhateveryoushareitas

try inputting this in option 2
(if you have a firewall installed on the compaq, this may possibly interfere with File and print sharing..)

tigermatt wrote:

The name will just be something like your computer name then the printer name: \\ComputerName\PrinterShareName.

Set up a Home Network to Print from Wireless Laptop???

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