Windows 7: Connecting Win7 to HP printer LaserJet 2100 on Win NT

Hi all,

I am connecting a laptop running Windows 7 64bits to a HP printer LaserJet 2100 on a Win NT server through workgroup network. Here are my problems.

1) Problem when connecting Wireless to the network
--All other computers (running XP & 98s) are connected through hub to router to the server.
--This laptop is the only one connecting wirelessly right now.
--Laptop can not see any computers in the same network However can connect Online.(since can't see other computers thus can't connect to printers.)

Q: how can I make them see/connect to each other?

2) Problem when connecting via LAN to the network
--Laptop now can see all the computers in the network and can access the files
--However when trying to ADD Printer from network still unsuccessful. Here is what I did:



Device & Settings --> ADD Printer --> ADD a network printer --> (found the printer on network and clicked on NEXT) >> Driver Not Found

Then I tried to locate the driver manually to the driver downloaded from HP's site which updated recently in Dec. Here is the link still can not find the right .INF file to install.

It seems the Laptop doesn't know what exact .INF file it is looking for and thus failed to install.

Q: How to Connecting Windows 7 to HP LaserJet 2100 on Win NT ?

Any reply/answers to both Scenarios would be greatly appreciated. (this issue troubled me for a while now would really like to have some solution) Thanks for reading.

Hello, Thegirlinred, Welcome to SevenForums
I have seen some success by hooking the printer up to the pc and then installing the driver. If this is not available to you you can try to run the compatibility mode tutorial in your downloaded driver .exe file. Good luck to you with this problem.
Compatibility Mode

Hi all

First even though the printer is on a NETWORK do not add it as a Network printer to your Windows 7 system.

The main problem will be running / installing 32 bit drivers on an X-64 system which is a NO NO. So we do a "Poodlefake" operation which tells the computer to treat the remote printer as a LOCAL device -- that way we can use the 64 bit driver on our LOCAL machine - your laptop.

The windows spool system will have got the data ready before finally sending it to the remote printer.

I've posted this type of stuff before -- but here again is the info on what to do.

what you do is the following

1) add new printer
2) Choose LOCAL Printer
3) find out the network name of the printer --for example \\dogsbody\junkprinter
4) click create a NEW Port in the add printer wizard from the control panel
5) select LOCAL port (unless your printer is a purely networked printer with an IP address then chose TCPIP port and enter the IP address -- usually however the Network name like I've specified in 3) will be sufficient
6) enter the network name as in 3 or ip address

Now you'll get prompted to install a driver -- install the Windows 7 DRIVER (x-86 or x-64 depending on what version of Windows 7 you are using).

You should find you can print from your laptop now.

So reminder

Connect this as a LOCAL printer as described and use the proper Windows 7 driver.

You CAN'T connect x-86 drivers on x-64 Windows 7 systems in any case.

You should be able to find the Laserjet driver on the HP site.

The x-64 Vista one will work as well if it exists.


BTW this is the standard method for getting Windows 7 x-64 machines to share printers attached to win XP and vice versa as wll as for connecting to "network" printer devices.

I know its confusing as the printer is a Network printer and you are poodle faking it to be a "local" printer -- but it's the same sort of confusion as trying to find out what the English mean by a "Public School" -- it's not in any way shape or form what most people would imagine as "Public".


Cheers
jimbo

Hi Jimbo

I followed your instructions and I am proud to announce the Success in the "Poodlefake" operation!! Now I am able to print on that network printer! Thank you.

When it prompted for the driver I was able to find the driver from the list provided and it installed properly.

Thank you for the detailed notes you made it possible for completing this operation on a first try. This basically solved my #2 question and now I just have to figure out the answer to question #1 which is more of a network problem than software installation. Any taker on this issue?

Also thanks to myzr7 for your attempt to help!

Thegirlinred, Glad you have worked out your printing problem for laptop. To get started on your sharing with your laptop when connected wireless, do you have network discovery selected? As in my snip?

This really should be a sticky!

Hi myzr7,

Answer is Yes I have all three of them as "yes"

jimbo45

what you do is the following

1) add new printer
2) Choose LOCAL Printer
3) find out the network name of the printer --for example \\dogsbody\junkprinter
4) click create a NEW Port in the add printer wizard from the control panel
5) select LOCAL port (unless your printer is a purely networked printer with an IP address then chose TCPIP port and enter the IP address -- usually however the Network name like I've specified in 3) will be sufficient......


Thanks so much for this post. I am new to Windows 7, and this really helped me.