network printing problems

I am having a great deal of difficulty setting up a network printer. I have two brand new computers running Windows 7 64. My main desktop computer is attached to an Lexmark printer. The other computer is an Toshiba Laptop. Both computers are using the most up to date drivers as downloaded from the Lexmark website.

All files print without error from main computer to which the printer is physcially connected. From the secondary computer, however, nothing prints. I have enabled both public and homegroup print and file sharing on both computers. All flies exchange without problems. The printer itself seems to have set up just fine on the network.

The problem starts when I attempt to print. Print jobs initiated on the network computer (the laptop) appear in the queue on both computers, but simply will not print. They also do not delete properly until I initiate a troubleshoot.

I have searched a little for this problem on the net, and despite attempting a number of fixes (such as setting up a new local port for the printer) but have not identified any satisfactory solutions. The problem persists.

Really strange as all worked perfectly when I had XP running previously on my older equipment. I'm totally stumped I thought Win 7 was meant to be easy for this sort of stuff, but this has left me confused and disappointed.

phil

Try this local printer set up from Jimbo, it should also work for Win 7 machines although USB printing isn't nearly as good as IP based print servers.

XP to 7 Printer sharing

Chev - many thanks forthe quick reply,,,,

But I no longer have XP. ''Both new PC's are running Win 7''.

I only mentioned XP as printer shared worked ok before on my older equipment, which I've got rid of.
thanks
p

Hi,
First, you need to go to the computer that is physically connected and go to the start menu, click on devices and printers, right click on the printer that you want to print off and click Printer Properties. Then click the Sharing tab. Next, check the box Share this printer. Now you can type in the Share name. This name will show up on the client computers that are going to use the printer. Now you can get the Toshiba laptop. Click Start, click devices and printers, now click on the top of that window: Add a printer. Now click Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer. Select your printer. Install the driver and you're done! Keep in mind that with this you will have to keep the desktop on when you want to print. Both the computers should be connected to the network when you do this. If you have any problems or if this is not the answer to your question, please say something.

brabham123 said:

Chev - many thanks forthe quick reply,,,,

But I no longer have XP. ''Both new PC's are running Win 7''.

I only mentioned XP as printer shared worked ok before on my older equipment, which I've got rid of.
thanks
p

Doesn't matter if it's XP or not the printer set up is the same. :)
This same problem with printing is very common, especially with USB printers.