Windows Forum

Ask something
Question Locked

not able to connect network printer on windows vista

0 helpful
6 replies

by mokhmo_30

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

dear all,
when i try to connect network printer with my pc loaded with vista bussiness edition, i can't able to connect. while connecting it showing the error message that "could not perform this task error 0*00000866. i also tried with tcp/ ip. it is also showing problem.

help me out.....

6 replies

by eayres

First, there are some updates to Win XP software not normally automatically installed via automatic update which are needed to support the enhancements to TCP/IP in use in the Vista environment.

Second, due to Vista operating systems requirements, all accounts which may access anything on a vista machine are required to be password protected in some way. This means that a Windows XP Home user without a password on system A can never "see" anything on a networked Vista machine even if all the file and printer sharing is set up correctly.

Third, some security software can give you problems. For example, on my little home network, two PC's are running Symantec's Internet Security, and a third has McAffee downloaded for free from my cable service provider. The McAffee software equipped machine is denied access to the Semantec equipped machines not by Symantec, but by the design of McAffee's own product. It is a PITA, but all of your poblems are solvable.

by eayres

I just confirmed something else that has been bugging me. If you use some, but not all, of the commercially available internet security packages, the chances are you won't be able to hook up all of your computers unless they run software from the same supplier. I just confirmed with McAffee tech support that they intentionally don't allow peer networking in a private network to work properly unless all the machines are running their software. Symantec, on the other hand, is a little more forgiving. They warn you that you may be connecting to an unprotected machine because they can't find their program running, but at least they don't intentionally firewall standard microsoft sharing ports! THAT PISSES ME OFF!
I've ressolved not to ever recommend McAffee software unless that approach is changed! It is clearly an anti-competitive design which I believe court precedents would hold is illegal. Read the history of the browser wars with Microsoft.

by squirrelking

I was having your exact same problem and I found this solution on some small wi-fi forum so now I'm posting everywhere that I can.

- On Vista PC go to "Control Panel" - "Printers" - "Add printer".
- Believe or not, click "Add a local printer" (I know you want to add a network printer but that way it doesn't work).
- Click "Create a new port" - "Local Port" - "Next"
- In the next box you have to enter a port name like this:
\\PC name\Printer name
where "PC name" is the network name of the XP PC or Network Share where you have the printer and "Printer name" is the network name of that printer. Be careful with this names. Check in your XP PC "Control Panel" - "Printers and faxes" - "your printer" - right click - "share" - "share resources name"
- Choose the manufacturer and printer model of the printer you are adding.
- Now the printer will be added and you can print a test page or print something to test it.

Hope it helps until MS fixes it!

by juah55

I was trying for hours..then I read your article and BINGO..it work just want to say thks 1 more time

by evachan21

I tried couple times but unable to get the right path...(I think).I copied the link from one of the existing network PC(XP System). There is a message said 'Network Path was not found' when I create the Local Port Name. I am not very good in computer, can anyone help me?

This discussion is closed to new replies.