My desktop and original laptop are XP, and my new laptop has Vista. I can't
get the Vista computer to print. It shows the printer on the network (an HP
deskjet950C), but when I print, nothing happens. Any ideas about how to fix
this? I am not very computer savvy, so if you need further information,
please explain where to find it!

Michelle wrote:
My desktop and original laptop are XP, and my new laptop has Vista. I can't
get the Vista computer to print. It shows the printer on the network (an HP
deskjet950C), but when I print, nothing happens. Any ideas about how to fix
this? I am not very computer savvy, so if you need further information,
please explain where to find it!

Have you set up file/printer sharing successfully first? If yes (and you
would test this by exchanging a file from Vista to XP and back again),
then follow HP's instructions for installing the printer:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...=57835&lang=en

If you haven't set up file/printer sharing (not forgetting to share out
the printer!), then you need to do so first.

Excellent, thorough, yet easy to understand article about File/Printer
Sharing in Vista. Includes details about sharing printers as well as
files and folders:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../bb727037.aspx

If you need more details about setting up file/printer sharing, post back.


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

On Sat, 29 Dec 2007 05:45:43 -0800, Malke
wrote:

Michelle wrote:
My desktop and original laptop are XP, and my new laptop has Vista. I can't
get the Vista computer to print. It shows the printer on the network (an HP
deskjet950C), but when I print, nothing happens. Any ideas about how to fix
this? I am not very computer savvy, so if you need further information,
please explain where to find it!

Have you set up file/printer sharing successfully first? If yes (and you
would test this by exchanging a file from Vista to XP and back again),
then follow HP's instructions for installing the printer:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...=57835&lang=en

If you haven't set up file/printer sharing (not forgetting to share out
the printer!), then you need to do so first.

Excellent, thorough, yet easy to understand article about File/Printer
Sharing in Vista. Includes details about sharing printers as well as
files and folders:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../bb727037.aspx

If you need more details about setting up file/printer sharing, post back.


Malke

I had the same problem with an HP 842c printer. The trouble was
caused by the 842 driver on XP not being Vista compatible. The
solution was to install a different print driver on the XP machine --
the one for an HP Deskjet 500C -- and share that and link to it from
the Vista machine.

This way I had two printers defined on XP; an HP 842c which I used
locally, and an HP 500C which I shared to my Vista laptop.

This was what an HP tech support guy worked through with me -- the
second of two that I talked to (the first one disconnected the call
when he couldn't figure out how to solve the problem).
--
Jay (remove dashes for legal email address)

I can share files by putting them in the Public folder, but that's it. I
read the article on file sharing, and attempted it, but realized that my
network map doesn't even show the XP computers on it, so there's no way to
allow file sharing with them. I tried typing in the name of the XP and adding
it, but it didn't find it.


"Jay Somerset" wrote:

On Sat, 29 Dec 2007 05:45:43 -0800, Malke
wrote:

Michelle wrote:
My desktop and original laptop are XP, and my new laptop has Vista. I can't
get the Vista computer to print. It shows the printer on the network (an HP
deskjet950C), but when I print, nothing happens. Any ideas about how to fix
this? I am not very computer savvy, so if you need further information,
please explain where to find it!

Have you set up file/printer sharing successfully first? If yes (and you
would test this by exchanging a file from Vista to XP and back again),
then follow HP's instructions for installing the printer:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...=57835&lang=en

If you haven't set up file/printer sharing (not forgetting to share out
the printer!), then you need to do so first.

Excellent, thorough, yet easy to understand article about File/Printer
Sharing in Vista. Includes details about sharing printers as well as
files and folders:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../bb727037.aspx

If you need more details about setting up file/printer sharing, post back.


Malke

I had the same problem with an HP 842c printer. The trouble was
caused by the 842 driver on XP not being Vista compatible. The
solution was to install a different print driver on the XP machine --
the one for an HP Deskjet 500C -- and share that and link to it from
the Vista machine.

This way I had two printers defined on XP; an HP 842c which I used
locally, and an HP 500C which I shared to my Vista laptop.

This was what an HP tech support guy worked through with me -- the
second of two that I talked to (the first one disconnected the call
when he couldn't figure out how to solve the problem).
--
Jay (remove dashes for legal email address)

Michelle wrote:
I can share files by putting them in the Public folder, but that's it. I
read the article on file sharing, and attempted it, but realized that my
network map doesn't even show the XP computers on it, so there's no way to
allow file sharing with them. I tried typing in the name of the XP and adding
it, but it didn't find it.

Then you haven't set up sharing correctly. Here are my standard network
troubleshooting steps.

*****
Here are general network troubleshooting steps. Not everything may be
applicable to your situation, so just take the bits that are. It may
look daunting, but if you follow the steps at the links and suggestions
below systematically and calmly, you will have no difficulty in setting
up your sharing.

Excellent, thorough, yet easy to understand article about File/Printer
Sharing in Vista. Includes details about sharing printers as well as
files and folders:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../bb727037.aspx

For XP, start by running the Network Setup Wizard on all machines (see
caveat in Item A below).

Problems sharing files between computers on a network are generally
caused by 1) a misconfigured firewall; or 2) inadvertently running two
firewalls such as the built-in Windows Firewall and a third-party
firewall; and/or 3) not having identical user accounts and passwords on
all Workgroup machines; 4) trying to create shares where the operating
system does not permit it.

For XP and Windows 2003 Server, MVP Hans-Georg Michna has an excellent
small network troubleshooter. It may also be useful with Vista.

http://winhlp.com/wxnet.htm

Here are some general networking tips for home/small networks:

A. Configure firewalls on all machines to allow the Local Area Network
(LAN) traffic as trusted. With Windows Firewall, this means allowing
File/Printer Sharing on the Exceptions tab. Normally running the Network
Setup Wizard on XP will take care of this for those machines.The only
"gotcha" is that this will turn on the XPSP2 Windows Firewall. If you
aren't running a third-party firewall or have an antivirus with
"Internet Worm Protection" (like Norton 2006/07) which acts as a
firewall, then you're fine. With third-party firewalls, I usually
configure the LAN allowance with an IP range. Ex. would be
192.168.1.0-192.168.1.254. Obviously you would substitute your correct
subnet. Do not run more than one firewall.

B. For ease or organization, put all computers in the same Workgroup.
This is done from the System applet in Control Panel, Computer Name tab.

C. Create matching user accounts and passwords on all machines. You do
not need to be logged into the same account on all machines and the
passwords assigned to each user account can be different; the
accounts/passwords just need to exist and match on all machines. If you
wish a machine to boot directly to the Desktop (into one particular
user's account) for convenience, you can do this. The instructions at
this link work for both XP and Vista:

Configure Windows to Automatically Login (MVP Ramesh) -
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Autologon.htm

D. If one or more of the computers is XP Pro or Media Center:

1. If you need Pro's ability to set fine-grained permissions, turn off
Simple File Sharing (Folder OptionsView tab) and create identical user
accounts/passwords on all computers.

2. If you don't care about using Pro's advanced features, leave the
Simple File Sharing enabled. Simple File Sharing means that Guest
(network) is enabled. This means that anyone without a user account on
the target system can use its resources. This is a security hole but
only you can decide if it matters in your situation.

E. Create shares as desired. XP Home does not permit sharing of users'
home directories (My Documents) or Program Files, but you can share
folders inside those directories. A better choice is to simply use the
Shared Documents folder. See the first link above for details about
Vista sharing.

F. After you have file sharing working (and have tested this by
exchanging a file between all machines), if you want to share a printer
connected locally to one of your computers, share it out from that
machine. Then go to the printer mftr.'s website and download the latest
drivers for the correct operating system(s). Install them on the target
machine(s). The printer should be seen during the installation routine.
If it is not, install the drivers and then use the Add Printer Wizard.
*****

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User