Home Networking Dilema

[vetplus40]

I am trying to share a printer between to different computers. The pc's are connected to a Linksys Dsl router/4 port switch. The workgroup has a common name and each computer has its own name.

The "Antec" computer is the printer host computer. It is running XP Professional. It has the ICF turned off. TCP/IP is enabled as is Print and file sharing. I am using Microsoft Client. Both computers show under "workgroup computers". The printer is set to "local printer". The properties box shows it as a shared computer using the name "Lexmark". The printer works fine with this computer. It will also print documents off of the other network computer from this location.

The "Compaq" computer is running ME. It is an older computer. Both network computer icons are shown under "My network". The "Antec" icon shows a printer connected to it. I ran the "Add printer wizard" and configured it to "network printer". I used the browse option to locate and set the following
path: \\Antec\ Lexmark. The drivers are loaded. If I try and use this printer, I get the printer progress box and a message that says: "Problems communicatiing with the printer". I have read FAQ's, Tutorials and even visited the Microsoft website on Home Networking and have done everything they stated. Have I overlooked, or misunderstood something? I have been at this for a week now. It can't be that hard.
Does anybody have any idea? Desperate. Thanks in advance.

 

[Zugzwang152]

try sharing the printer from the Win ME machine to see if the results are the same... their may be problems from an older OS (95-ME) trying to access a new OS (2000-XP-2003) network share.

 

[LanFear]

Get rid of windows ME, that's a start.

 

[LanFear]

seriously though, if you haven't tried this, here's a suggestion. Delete the printer on the compaq computer. Hit the printer manufacturer's website and get their winME drivers for said printer. Install them locally on the compaq PC. Add the printer again.

 

[vetplus40]

According to the Microsoft website, as long as their are no special characters or spaces in the shared printer name, the ME computer should interact with the printer. I guess I need to check for better drivers. I will also verify that thw printer will work with this older computer, even though it used to be connected to it and worked fine.
The pc doesn't have the resources to run XP correctly, or I would have switched OS's a long time ago. Upgrding this pc is not cost effective. Thanks for the info. At least you guys didn't spot any obvious errors...

 

[JackMDS]

May be this can Help: Sharing Disk Drives Between Computers on Windows Network.

:sun:

 

[Motobyrd71]

You might try the Lexmark website under your models FAQ's. I know some of their printers aren't very network friendly.

 

[vetplus40]

Thanks. I tried all of Jacks links and found no anwer there. After I install the printer on the Compaq pc, using the Add network wizard, I get a message that says "You must set up the printer on this computer". I am wondering if this program is not assigning my network printer on the Compaq to LPT1? Just a thought.

 

[LanFear]

It shouldn't be assinging it to LPT1 as it's a network printer and not physically connected to the compaq. Get the win9x drivers for the printer, and put them somewhere locally on the compaq in it's own folder. Add a network printer, browse to the printer on the Antec, and when it asks you, point it to the drivers that you have locally. Xp drivers are usually not compatible with win9x machines, so you'll need a specific driver set for the winME machine.