XP Pro laptop can't find network printers

callistris

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

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).

Thanks

Going to give that a go now:)

callistris

Ok have done that results were 4 packets sent and 4 received (0% loss)

Which I'm guessing is good?

scheming_gypsy

depends really.

it's good that the laptop is on the network and can actually see other devices on the network, but bad because it'd be easier if it didn't see them.

try disabling the firewall and see if you can access anything. Normally it'd cause a problem the other way round where nobody else can connect to you.
Other options would depend on if you're in a workgroup or domain environment.

callistris

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

depends really.

it's good that the laptop is on the network and can actually see other devices on the network, but bad because it'd be easier if it didn't see them.

try disabling the firewall and see if you can access anything. Normally it'd cause a problem the other way round where nobody else can connect to you.
Other options would depend on if you're in a workgroup or domain environment.

Darn it, I thought that would have been good, oh well!

Firewall is disabled as it stops some software we use in the workshops from operating correctly.

The network is set up as "workgroup" if that helps

scheming_gypsy

how's the network set up on the others?

Also, how is the network set up? just so we can visualise it. With you saying it's a small set up I can't see you having a couple of DC's, file servers, print servers, exchange servers, backup servers etc etc. So it's hard to try and visualise how everything works to find where the problem could be.

callistris

The network is all set as workgroup.

Since starting this reply, the laptop has eventually found the printers on the network and has at last printed to one.

Thanks for your time and help, but hopefully (fingers crossed) its now sorted:)