Repurposing old laptop

rmg1

Hi all

I've been given an old laptop (currently running Windows 10 Home) that can't be upgraded to Windows 11.

I'm looking to repurpose it and turn into a print-server.

I've got several wired/wireless devices that I need to print from (rarely at the same time) but the printer only has a USB connection and is nowhere near the router.

My theory is as follows:-
Plug printer into laptop (as a permanent thing)
Laptop connects to home network (highly unlikely it will ever be connected to the internet)
Turn laptop into print-server
Print from whatever device I need as the printer is now a network-level printer

The laptop will be permanently switched on and mains powered (battery is basically a paperweight but that's another story).

Is this possible?

If so, has anyone got any idiot-proof instructions on how to do it?

TIA

Richard

flaneurs_lobster

What's the make/model of the printer?

Here's what Google Gemini says:

To use a print server with a "dumb" printer (a printer without built-in networking) in Windows 10, you'll need to configure a computer as a print server and then share the printer from that server. This allows multiple clients to print to the printer through the print server. 

Here's a general outline of the process:

1. 1. Connect the "dumb" printer to a computer:

   Use a USB cable to connect the printer to one of your computers. 
   
   

2. Install the printer driver on the computer:

Follow the manufacturer's instructions to install the printer driver on the chosen computer. 

3. Share the printer:

• Open the "Printers" settings in Windows 10. 

Right-click on the printer you want to share and select "Properties". Go to the "Sharing" tab. Check the box next to "Share this printer". Enter a name for the shared printer (optional). Click "OK". 

4. Configure the print server:

• On each client computer that needs to access the shared printer, you'll need to add the printer. 

You can typically find the printer by its network name (e.g., \\printserver\printername) or by using the "Add a printer" option in Windows 10. 

sk2402005

I just question if its worth it? just buy a wireless printer?

The power costs from the laptop will eventually offset the cost of the printer - theres a few <£50.

Est power use at 25w/hr your looking at £60 a year in electricity.

This of course is applicable if you just print A4 - if you already have some exotic large print printer or multiple printers then thats diffrerent.

Frozen_up_north

Never mind a bulky laptop, have you considered using a Raspberry Pi? They are tiny, low cost, and very capable. I use one as a watchdog to power cycle my router/modem if a ping fails, it also runs a subnet for my virtual private network (means I can access anything on my home network from elsewhere in the world as an IP address of 192.168.xxx.xxx).

jshm2

Nah, just get a Rapsberry Pi or Banana Pi instead - will work out more compact and usable as a print server. 

As for your laptop, make it into MAME arcade machine instead, else an Android Box or a music/movie server. 

droopsnoot

I think the point of the question is to use the laptop and printers that the OP has already got, and will therefore be free (apart from the electricity).

I used to use an old Windows PC in the office for doing similar things, it hosted a couple of specialised label printers and, I think, something else, maybe a laser. It was OK, but it did have a habit of needing a reset every so often, which was only noticed when a label didn't print. It was a pain for me because we didn't have a monitor fitted to the PC, but that won't be an issue on a laptop.

Ergates

It is definitely possible, but unless you do a *lot* of printing then I don't know if it is worth it - specifically the bit about leaving it running constantly.   A laptop isn't to to use a huge amount of electricity, but it'll add up over time.

I've had this thought myself a few times, as the network card in my printer died a couple of years ago - but I've always concluded that whilst it's a bit of a faff at the time, having something switchedon 24/7 just to save me a few seconds here and there wasn't really worth the cost or effort.

rmg1

In some semblance of order:-
It's a Brother colour laser (can't remember the exact model) and there's no network port on it
@flaneurs_lobster - thanks for the detailed instructions (hopefully I can follow them)

@sk2402005 - it's already wireless, but I need to use a couple of wired connections (machines don't have wireless capabilities) and it's a faff having to move the USB cable between machines

@Frozen_up_north - I did think about that, but I already have the laptop sat gathering dust

@jshm2 - wouldn't know where to start making it into a arcade machine

@droopsnoot - exactly my point

@Ergates - it's more saving the faff of moving the USB cable between machines

flaneurs_lobster

The fact that the printer has wireless networking onboard is new information that might make things easier, although if you could find the model number it might help further.

Can you give a bit more information about the kit that you have to connect by USB because of a lack of wireless?

rmg1

I have 2 (sometimes more if I'm working on friends PCs) desktop PCs that need to connect to the printer with a wired connection (no wireless capability and I'm not bothered about installing wireless (or whatever they) cards.  Other items can print wirelessly (got that bit sorted).

The printer is Brother HL-L3210CW Colour Laser

debitcardmayhem

rmg1 said:

I have 2 (sometimes more if I'm working on friends PCs) desktop PCs that need to connect to the printer with a wired connection (no wireless capability and I'm not bothered about installing wireless (or whatever they) cards.  Other items can print wirelessly (got that bit sorted).

The printer is Brother HL-L3210CW Colour Laser

The wired stuff will still be able to print on the wireless printer , they don’t need to be wireless just on the same network i.e. your home network 192.1.x.x (or whatever the subnet is mine is 192.2.x.x