Big problems in printing wirelessly from my laptop

HC_2

Hi, I'd be grateful for any advice on this, please! I have read the other threads, including the stickie, but I still can't work it out!

I have 3 computers:

A) A desktop connected by ethernet cable to a Netgear router, running Windows XP Home
A desktop connected wirelessly, running Windows XP Pro
C) A laptop connected wirelessly, running Windows XP Pro

I want to be able to print from my laptop to the printer connected to desktop B.

I have read dozens of articles on the Internet, including the MSE ones, and it should be so EASY! But I still can't do it.

On desktop B, I have enabled Sharing for the connected printer. I have gone into my firewall (Zone Alarm Pro) and made sure that any program entry with 'Epson' in it is 'Trusted'.

On my laptop, I go to Add a Printer; then I select Add a Network Printer or a Printer Attached to another Computer.

I ask it to Browse for a Printer.

Under Shared Printers, it comes up with:

Microsoft Windows Network
HOME
MSHOME

Nothing appears in the box marked 'Printer:'

I'm not sure if HOME is the name I've given to a network I've tried to set up in the past (in my numerous attempts to share files and printers) or if it's just the default. I've tried so many times I've not sure what I've done and what I haven't.

I have tried to ping desktop B from the laptop, but I get Request Timed Out, with the eventual result of 100% loss of packets.

(I can ping desktop A, though - the one that's connected to the router by ethernet.)

Does this mean that the laptop cannot 'see' desktop B?

How can I make it see it? And then connect to the printer?

If you need any more information about my PCs or their set-up, please say. I'm not terribly techie though, so I might need instructions in baby language!

If anyone could help me, I'd be VERY appreciative! Eternally grateful would be an understatement.

Thank you!

albertross_2

First step, right click on ZA on B, and close it (your router will protect you), then try ping again. If you still cant ping B, try it wired.

geewhiz

If you right click on your printer from Control Panel on Desktop B it will tell you what you have called the printer under the sharing tab.

Are you leaving the PC B and the printer switched on when trying to connect and have you installed the printer drivers on the laptop ?

HC_2

Thank you, Albatross.

I have shut down ZA on desktop B, and tried pinging it from the laptop. No success.

When you say 'try it wired', do you mean plug the laptop into the router? (Sorry to be dense.)

HC_2

Hi, geewhiz, thanks for your reply.

Yes, I know what the printer is called - Printer2 (very original!).

And yes, both desktop B and the printer are switched on.

But no, I have not installed the printer driver on the laptop. Eeek! Didn't even occur to me! I guess I should do that. Although at present this laptop can't 'see' desktop B. I'll go ahead and install the printer driver in anticipation anyway!

HC_2

Albatross, I connected the laptop to the router and tried to ping desktop B.

It failed.

geewhiz

If you go into Network settings via control panel can you see PC B from the laptop, if not it may not even be on your network

albertross_2

Are you pinging the ip address, or name?

Is windows firewall off?

Also, make sure wireless isolation is unticked in the router wireless settings

HC_2

Geewhiz, I've tried to install the printer driver. But when it asked which port I wanted it on, I cancelled it because I have no idea what that means.

Despite my cancelling it, it seems to have installed itself anyway, on port LTP1.

Testing it with a Word document, it tries to print, but can't find the printer.

I guess the crux of the problem is that this laptop can't 'see' the computer to which the printer is connected.

HC_2

Albatross,

I am pinging the IP address - 192.168.0.3

(I can successfully ping desktop A, the computer that is connected by ethernet to the router, though.)

Windows Firewall is turned off.

Wireless Isolation is/was unticked.

HC_2

Geewhiz

I don't think I can see PC B from the laptop.

I'm not quite sure I'm doing it right though.

It is not in Network Places (Local Network) or Network Connections (LAN or High Speed Internet).

I thought I read somewhere that I don't need to set up a network because the very fact that I have a wireless internet connection would do it for me...

Should I run the Network Setup Wizard?