Windows 7 print sharing problem-HELP

Everton26 · 06 Feb 2011

Windows 7 professional x64 operating system to which I have connected an older Lexmark Z11 printer on LPT1 port. Windows 7 found proper driver and printer works perfectly from that machine. I have tried to share this printer on the other computers on my home network (3 other computers, 1 wireless laptop running Windows XP-x32, 1 hardwired desktop running W7 Prof x64 and one wireless desktop running W7 Home x64). All computers are in the same "workgroup". I have connected all other computers to this "printer on another networked computer" and the process on all 3 of these machines appears to identify the shared printer, loading drivers etc. My problem is that ONLY the XP machine is able to print on this printer. The windows 7 machines send the data to the printer, but I only see the information "spooling" with nothing actually being printed. I actually have to go into the printer queue and cancel the job. Please Help! I can share files between all the computers in the workgroup. (connected through a Linksys WRT54G router)

mitchell65 · 06 Feb 2011

Hi Everton26 and welcome to the Forum. Bit confused here. At the start of your post you say "I have connected an older Lexmark Z11 printer on LPT1 port. Windows 7 found proper driver and printer works perfectly from that machine" but later you say "My problem is that ONLY the XP machine is able to print on this printer."
If the last statement is correct that would suggest that there is no Windows 7 Driver for his older machine. I have had a quick look online and cannot find one but that's not to say here isn't one. It just seems a bit too old to me but perhaps you will clarify my earlier point please.

Everton26 · 06 Feb 2011

The printer is physically connected to the Win 7 64 machine via its parallel port and prints as expected. When attempting to share with other computers on the home network, the only other computer that can use this printer over the network is the XP laptop; none of the other Win7 machines on the network work (no errors, just "spooling")

Ztruker · 06 Feb 2011

According to the Windows 7 Compatibility site the Z11 is supported by Windows 7.

Try this: Share a printer

It's for Vista but also works in Windows 7. Try it on the computers that will not print.

mitchell65 · 07 Feb 2011

Are the Win 7 machines where the problem is connected to the network, wired or wireless. If wireless is it possible to hardwire one just to try this?

Everton26 · 07 Feb 2011

One Windows 7x64 Prof PC is hard wired the other W7x64 Home PC is wireless; niether computer is able to print to the local shared printer connected to the hard wired W7x64 Prof PC.

mitchell65 · 07 Feb 2011

Well if it was my setup I would try installing the complete printer software to all the Win 7 machines and don't rely on just the driver that gets loaded automatically when you share a printer. That shouldn't make any difference but any port in a storm now!

Tarka Dal · 07 Feb 2011

From the other windows 7 computers search for the printer via the ''Network'' in IE and then right click on the printer then select 'connect'. This will automatically install a correct driver 'if there is one'. Let us know if this works for you...