PLEASE HELP - laptop wireless network printing

wcmcallister

Hi,

I'm hoping you can help me with a probem that has been taxing me for the past five hours. I'm trying to print from my wifi laptop to my printer, which is connected to my pc, upstairs.

My pc runs on xp and is connected to the internet via an ethernet cable to a netgear wireless router I got free from sky broadband. My toshiba laptop connects to the internet wirelessly via said router.

I have tried to create a network on both machines, giving both workgroups the same name, yet still nothing happens.

When I try to add the printer on the laptop using [URL="file://pcname/printername"]\\pcname\printername[/URL] I get a message telling me "windows cannot connect to the printer. Make sure that you have typed the name correctly, and that the printer is connected to the network". The name is definitely correct, but I really have no idea about networks; I'm anything but a techie, sadly. The printer works from the pc no problem.

Please someone offer me some advice.

Thank you very much.

W

globalds

When you are trying to print on the laptop ..is the desktop (printer linked P.C) switched on ?

scheming_gypsy

when you installed the printer onto the 'host' machine it'll appear in computers printer settings; start > settings > printer. If you go to printers it'll show you all the printers installed on the computer. Right click your printer and go to sharing.
Once there you'll probably see that the printer isn't shared. Check the box to share it and then give it a share name. Then try and connect from the laptop.

albertross_2

and make sure your network is encrypted.

If you have a software firewall, it may also be blocking file and print sharing.

:username:

Make sure you have unchecked the 'Wireless Isolation' box in your router wireless settings too!!

I didn't and as soon as I did my networking worries where all over!!

queenie_2

ihave a wirles laptop but not a wireless printer i have tried to print but with no joy

any one help please

queenie 2

macman

OP, have you already installed the printer software onto the laptop? (if not, use the disk that came with the printer for this).