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General discussion

Can't connect to netwrok printer

Dec 6, 2006 1:12PM PST

I have a home network with a desktop and notebook sharing a printer and internet. Everything worked fine until recently when I couldn't print from my notebook. So I decided to reinstall my printer from my notebook. In the Add Printer Wizard, where I am suppose to browse for my printer, the hour glass symbol stays on forever obviously not able to find my printer. What can I do? (The printer works fine from my desktop and the internet works fine from my notebook.)

Discussion is locked

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Add a "trusted network" or "trusted range of IP addresses"
Dec 7, 2006 7:08PM PST

Tell the firewalls on the desktop AND the notebook the range of IP addresses that they need to permit (trust) in order for the two computers to communicate. It's the same idea, but different security suites/firewall programs use different terms for it.

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can't find network printer
Dec 7, 2006 10:05PM PST

Thanks for the reply. I'll try your suggestion when I get home tonight. However, I wonder if firewalls are the cause of the problem since I did try searching for the printer with both firewalls turned off.

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firewalls are a common cause
Dec 8, 2006 2:41AM PST

These days, firewalls are frequently the culprits that prevent Windows file and printer sharing. Many don't know they have a firewall running because it's part of an antivirus/security suite, and if they do know that one is running, they don't know that it needs to be configured for sharing.

Some firewalls are tricky--you think they are off/disabled, but they aren't. Some computers even have more than one installed.

If you want to help us help you more, please post more info like what operating systems and firewalls/security suites you have on those machines.

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firewalls are a common cause (addendum)
Dec 8, 2006 2:44AM PST

Other things to check:

Router has latest firmware from router website?
Network adapters have latest drivers?
XP is SP2 and fully updated/patched?
Workgroup name is EXACTLY the same on all computers?

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Re: firewalls are a common cause (addendum)
Dec 11, 2006 2:04PM PST

I had a similar problem earlier today. I have a Dell notebook which has emails stored in it and I took it to another part of the house where I have an old desktop PC set up; this desktop is not connected to the internet but I have a good inkjet printer connected to it.

I connected the Dell Inspiron 1300 notebook to the old HP 895Cse Deskjet inkjet printer which was connected to my old desktop PC via a USB cable and attempted to print out copies of some of my emails stored in the Dell notebook but had no luck in doing so.

When I connected the Dell notebook to the HP 895Cse inkjet printer the Dell notebook immediately recognized the HP 895Cse inkjet printer but when I hit print nothing happened. What could be the problem?


Big Steve
Biloxi, MS
12/11/06

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download and install driver
Dec 11, 2006 4:20PM PST

A thought: you might be better served with a new discussion.

Try downloading and installing the driver form HP.com.

Also, did you make sure to select the 895Cse printer as the destination printer when you printed, or did the notebook attempt to print to another printer/device in the print window?

If that printer had been shared over a network, your notebook may have an instance of that printer listed as a network or shared printer and an instance of that printer as a locally (directly) connected printer. In this case, it is easy to print to the wrong one. If this is the case, disconnect the printer, delete all instances of that printer, and install the printer according to the instructions that come with the driver downloaded from HP.com

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Sharing the printer
Dec 14, 2006 3:18AM PST

The printer must be "shared" on the desktop that it's physically attached to. Otherwise it will never be found by any pc on your network.