Posted on 11/25/2007 3:56:48 PM PST by rudy45
I have, at home, a wireless network. Computer C and computer V are part of this network, run Windows XP Home, SP2, and also are part of Windows workgroup S_NET. Computer V has a USB printer, to which computer C can print wirelessly. When I look at workgroup computers on computer C, I see computers C and V.
I now want to add computer M to this workgroup. I run the workgroup setup wizard, give it the name of the workgroup S_NET, and the wizard finishes fine. However, afterwards, I cannot print wirelessly from computer M to computer V. Also, when I'm on computer M, and viewing workgroup computers, I see only M. I don't see either C or V.
Should the setup on M have been sufficient? Or, do I have to do anything on C and V so that they see M and vice versa? Thanks.
Been there, done that a zillion times.
So first, make sure the printer is “shared”. Next, make sure you add that printer to the computers being added to the network as “network printers” vs. local printers.
Also.....the real pisser........XP is NOTORIOUS for it’s networking/workgroups. You get ‘em all added, all set up, sharing devices, seeing each other in the workgroup, etc. etc..................and a day or week or month later..........it all goes to hell for no reason and you must do it all over again.
Don’t ask why. It’s a Windows thing. I’ve done this in our home on a wireless network for YEARS.
Oh...to expand on your question: No, once a system is added to the workgroup, the other systems in the same workgroup should ‘see’ it no problem. As for what devices on that system they can ‘see’........again, right click on My Computer, select Explore. Go item by item and right click, select Sharing and Security......decide if you want to share the device (hard drive, optical drive, printer, whatever) with others in the workgroup.
The two computers previously on the network do see each other. The one computer, C, is able to print wirelessly to the printer connected to V. In my view, that means that that printer already is set up to share.
Should I maybe think about re-installing the network wizard on V, the print server, even though theoretically I shouldn’t have to?
Well, first thing you should do is install Ubuntu Linux.
During the install, Ubuntu will discover all of your workgroup devices, set them up for you, and then list them in your “Places” folder on your taskbar (panel in Linuxese)...
and then offer your an order of fries and a cup o’ joe! /humor
Just make sure you added the printer to computer M as a network printer vs. a local printer. Common mistake.
No. I assume you’re using TCP/IP as opposed to NetBIOS as your protocol. Are you using a wireless router or just the cards in the PC’s in ad-hoc mode? Do the other machines have fixed or dynamically assighed addresses? Make sure machine ‘M’ has appropriate IP settings and is in the right subnet (the fist two or three numbers between the periods match). I would suggest a fixed address since it’s simpler than DHCP and should still work together if that’s what the others are.
You might try opening a CMD window on each of the machines, type ipconfig/all and post the results here.
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