Sharing a Printer on a wireless Network

humm...quick and dirty way. make a workgroup [join both comps to the same workgroup] make sure client for microsoft networks and file and printer sharing for Microsoft networks is installed [network connections/the nic properties, you can bridge your wired and wireless connections, share the printer.

How can I join the laptop to the workgroup if the workgroup can only be setup if I choose the wired connection in order to continue the network setup? Do I have bridge the wired and wireless connections first?

I think that Cg is on to something. You could create a shared workgroup, check your workgroup name setting under My Computer properties. You might need to create "mirrored" user accounts on both machines. Connect through the wireless, then browse for the share against the "workgroup", or direct input through a run box(, after a re-boot for both).

you don't need to be connected to a switch or router to join a workgroup. Just pick a name for the workgroup, whatever you like. Click start control panel and click on the system Icon.Click on the computer name tab. click the change radio button. in the workgroup box, change the name from the default install "workgroup" to the new name. click ok reboot. do this on the other computer as well using the same workgroup name.

make sure each computer has client for microsoft networks and file and printer sharing for microsoft networks installed and checked [there's a check in the check box] in the NIC properties page.

Whatever comp has the printer attached to it, share the printer.

you should then be able to use the add a printer wizard in control panel /printers and faxes [printers and faxes icon] to connect to the shared printer. The browse for a printer will allow you to browse the new workgroup you created that both computers belong to for the comp that has the shared printer.

Note: depending upon the printer mfg, you can download network drivers for the printer and stick em in a shared folder. When the wizard asks for the drivers just point to the shared folder.

Depending upon the wireless NIC mfg, the nic properties should provide you all the functionality of a "wired" NIC meaning all the protocols, services available on a wired NIC are available on a wireless NIC. IF not then you can bridge the wireless to Wired NIC.

Also note normally in creating a simple workgroup for sharing files and printers doesn't require you to have the user accounts on all comps if you set permissions on the shares to include the account you wish to use to access the shares. BUT hey there are exceptions. if you run into problems connecting e.g. you get the error message access denied, add the user account you are using to the computer your trying to connect to.

This shouldn't be that hard...are you connected wirelessly when you run the network setup from the laptop?? Make sure your IP addressing is compatible for a home LAN, both are in the same IP octet if you are not using DHCP. Workgroup name is identical, etc. Make sure Windows firewall is off. Check that under Tools, folder options, View, Advanced...that you have "Use simple file sharing" checked.

If nothing seems amiss, disable the wired connection when you are connected wirelessly, and run network setup again.

Does your printer have a NIC? If so configure the printers NIC with a permanent IP address and then install the printer on both computers! Unless you want to use the other computer as a printserver...

If you are having problems with the wireless make sure you have all network components installed for the Wlan NIC and then see if you can connect to the printer. Also make sure everybody has printing rights on the printer on the host machine!

Did you check the MS Firewall setting on the NICs? I have had trouble with printers and folder sharing when the firewall wall acidentally turned on. Perhaps the default configuration allows for the Internet traffic for the network sharing but not for shared resources on the computers themselves. I turn off the firewall, but I know it can be configured to let specific resources through. This would assume that all your computers are in the same workgroup, although I think I just added a laptop to my home network this week and did not have to change any workgroup settings, so either it did not matter or I was using default workgroup names.

I would verify that it's in the same workgroup, client for microsoft networks, and check your firewall. Once I had an issue with the McAffee firewall which would block me from accessing the printer in the workgroup.

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