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print sharing between vista & XP wirelss

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3 replies

by catiswomp

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My setup is as follows: I have a PC with an XP operating system connected via Ethernet cable to a w 2Wire wireless modem.

I have a a new laptop running Vista basic. I want to be able to print to the printer already connected via USB to the PC from my new laptop and print to it wireless, hopefully through the 2Wire modem. The laptop connects to the internet via the wireless modem just fine.

I'm not the greatest at computers but get by. If my PC & 2Wire configuration allows it, can anyone give me a step by step procedure to allow my Vista OS laptop to wireless print to my printer that is USB connected to my XP OS PC which is ethernet connected to my 2Wire wireless modem?

I have NOT setup a home network. If that is required, I would need a step by step procedure. Hopefully not. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

3 replies

by tmalo627

You need to share the printer on the network, then connect to it from the Vista laptop. You also need to make sure your user name and password are the EXACTLY the same on both computers. It will also be easier if you write down your computer name (found by pressing your Windows key + Pause/Break, then selecting the Computer Name tab. You are looking for what is there after Full Computer Name).

On the XP computer with the printer:
Control Panel > Printers and Faxes
Right-click on the printer you want to share and select Properites from the menu. Click on the Sharing tab. Select the Share this Printer radio button and give it a name in the provided box. (You may need to enable sharing depending on the edition of XP and Service Pack level.) Then click on the Security tab. Make sure your user name (that you have on both computers) is there and has the proper permissions.

Now go to your Vista laptop:
Go to your control panel where you would normally install a printer as though it were physically connected to the laptop. It will ask you if you want to install a local printer or a network print. Select network printer. In the box type
\\XPCOMPUTERNAME\SHAREDPRINTERNAME.

**Edited to remove line break**

Hope this helps.

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