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XP Pro laptop can't find network printers

callistris
callistris Posts: 656 Forumite
Part of the Furniture
in Techie Stuff
Hi
I'm after some help please.

We have a laptop running xp pro on our small network at work, which until today was connected and able to print to 2 different printers on our network.
Now today it just says "unable to connect" for each printer and refuses to print.
I deleted both printers and tried to re-connect but now it refuses to find the printers on the network.

All other pc's on the network are able to print and are working fine, so all print sharing is working correctly.

I've tried googling my problem, but answers point at setting up for the first time, which in my case isn't right as this worked yesterday!

The laptop has been connected wirelessly and wired and neither works:(

Does anyone have any ideas at what is wrong?
«1

Comments

  • GunJack
    GunJack Posts: 11,894 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    have you re-run the network setup wizard on the lappy? Sometimes uninstalling and re-installing the printer drivers will do it....can't think of any updates overnight?
    ......Gettin' There, Wherever There is......

    I have a dodgy "i" key, so ignore spelling errors due to "i" issues, ...I blame Apple :D
  • callistris
    callistris Posts: 656 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    Yeah tried that and that hasn't made any difference!

    It's connected fine to the network as I can see the laptop from my desktop on the network, just the darn laptop can't see out:(
  • scheming_gypsy
    scheming_gypsy Posts: 18,410 Forumite
    edit.. didn't read to the end.
  • scheming_gypsy
    scheming_gypsy Posts: 18,410 Forumite
    can you ping anything on the network from your laptop?
  • callistris
    callistris Posts: 656 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    scheming_gypsy wrote: »
    can you ping anything on the network from your laptop?


    How do I do that?
  • scheming_gypsy
    scheming_gypsy Posts: 18,410 Forumite
    start > run > cmd (press enter). It'll bring up a black box. In that, type in ping hostname

    Hostname will be the name of another machine / server on the network. What it'll do then is send a message to the machine and the machine will send one back (if it can see it).
  • GunJack
    GunJack Posts: 11,894 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    open a cmd prompt, and type ping xxx.xxx.x.xxx, where xxx etc is the ip address of another device on your network...if it's through a router, try the router's address first
    ......Gettin' There, Wherever There is......

    I have a dodgy "i" key, so ignore spelling errors due to "i" issues, ...I blame Apple :D
  • GunJack
    GunJack Posts: 11,894 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    @ sg.... Snap !! ;)
    ......Gettin' There, Wherever There is......

    I have a dodgy "i" key, so ignore spelling errors due to "i" issues, ...I blame Apple :D
  • victor2
    victor2 Posts: 8,199 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    You may not be seeing the network at all. To check, enter ipconfig in the cmd window and you see what you get as an ip address and default gateway for wired or wireless connections.

    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the In My Home MoneySaving, Energy and Techie Stuff boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. 

    All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.

  • scheming_gypsy
    scheming_gypsy Posts: 18,410 Forumite
    GunJack wrote: »
    @ sg.... Snap !! ;)


    i went hostname so we can see if there's a DNS issue as well, as i'm guessing the printers will be mapped as [URL="file://\\hostname\printername"]\\hostname\printername[/URL] ;)
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