Repurposing old laptop

rmg1

@debitcardmayhem - I'm a little confused.  Do you mean without the laptop acting as a print server or with it?  The printer only has a USB connection (no ethernet available on the printer)

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

That is a wireless printer AFAIK

flaneurs_lobster

debitcardmayhem said:

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

That is a wireless printer AFAIK

Yes, now as to the 2 or more desktops without wireless - do they have a wired connection to your router?

rmg1

They do (through powerline adaptors).
The router is is a completely different room

debitcardmayhem

So is you wireless printer being seen on yournetwork?

flaneurs_lobster

In which case the printer and those desktops are already sharing a network and you should be able to configure it so that the computers can "see" the printer and print to it.

I could quote from the printer manual but I assume you can do this yourself?

debitcardmayhem

manuals https://www.brother.co.uk/support/hll3210cw/manuals

rmg1

I'm confused now. 

The printer is currently connected to pc1 via a USB cable from printer to PC.
If I want to print from pc2, I have to move the USB cable from pc1 to pc2 (or pc2 can't see it).
Obviously, if I want to print from my phone (as an example), that would go through the wireless bit on the printer. 

I can't understand how the printer can be on the network when it's connected via cable to a single machine. 

When I got the printer, there was no option (in the paperwork) to attach it to a network via a cable, only wirelessly.

debitcardmayhem

Precisely, it is a wireless printer,no need for usb nor wired ethernet.

flaneurs_lobster

Your printer should be set up so that it is connected to your router wirelessly.

Any device that wants to talk to your printer goes via the router.

This should all just work.

You might see on your phone (say) two printers, one will be a direct Phone --> Printer connection (if that's what you have set up), the other will be via the wireless network.