Cannot share folders or a printer amongst four Win 7 machines


  1. gfr92y
    Posts : 81
    Windows 10 Home C1H1
       New #1

    Cannot share folders or a printer amongst four Win 7 machines


    I feel like this should be like falling out of bed!

    I have two desktops hardwired to an Actiontec router and two laptops wifi-connected. All machines are 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium except one laptop that is 64-bit Windows 7 Professional.

    One of the two desktops is connected to an old HP LaserJet 3015 AIO (not to be confused with an equally old HP Business LaserJet 3015, which is an absolutely different kind of printer).

    I cannot share folders or a printer amongst the four machines.

    Please let me know how I can help you help me.

    Thanks!

    Joe

    Cannot share folders or a printer amongst four Win 7 machines-lan.png
    Last edited by gfr92y; 07 Jun 2016 at 10:17. Reason: Correct typo
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  3. townsbg
    Posts : 1,851
    Windows 7 pro
       New #2

    The computer that the printer is connected to has to have the drivers installed. Can you print using that computer? I don't know what you have tried or how you have set it up but try these guides. Also for the computer with the printer you will want to go into the router's setting and reserve an ipaddress for that computer. See your router's documentation on how to do that.

    Share a printer - Windows Help
    How to share a printer with the network in Windows
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  4. gfr92y
    Posts : 81
    Windows 10 Home C1H1
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    townsbg,

    Thanks for the response!

    townsbg said:
    The computer that the printer is connected to has to have the drivers installed. Can you print using that computer?
    Yes, I can print from the Gateway desktop that is connected to the printer by USB cable.

    townsbg said:
    I don't know what you have tried or how you have set it up...
    Brief history...
    1. Before my wife got the 64-bit Windows 7 Pro Lenovo laptop, she had a 32-bit Windows XP HP/Compac notebook with a stylus-only interactive screen and her and I could both print and share files.
    2. When my children got their 64-bit Windows 7 Home Premium (not Home Professional as previously reported) machines, I could not network the 32-bit XP notebook and the two 64-bit Windows 7 machines, and since the kids had school work, they got access to the printer and my wife lost access.
    3. When my wife got her 64-bit Windows 7 Professional Lenovo ThinkPad, the XP was decommissioned and I screwed up homegroups such that her Lenovo could not join my homegroup and my Gateway could not join the Lenovo's homegroup. (I have NO idea how I created two homegroups; one of each machine.)
    4. Ever since I created the homegroup debacle, I have been the only one who can print and occasionally some of us can share files with others, but we have never been able to share files amongst ourselves in a stable sense.


    townsbg said:
    ..., but try these guides.

    Share a printer - Windows Help

    How to share a printer with the network in Windows
    That's a great suggestion! I will do so and report back the results.


    townsbg said:
    Also for the computer with the printer you will want to go into the router's setting and reserve an ipaddress for that computer. See your router's documentation on how to do that.
    Oh. That makes sense. I will try and report back.

    Thanks again for your help and if anyone else has anything they would like to share with me, I look forward to hearing from you.

    Sincerely,

    Joe
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