W7 x64 & XP x86 printer networking

jimbo45 · 10 Aug 2009

Hi there
you need to install the driver on the XP MACHINE if you followed the instructions. Note install the XP DRIVER NOT W7 DRIVERS.

The printer is attached to the W7 X-64 machine and is working OK so you don't need to do anything on the W7 machine.

What the method of using the "Local Port" does is "poodlefake" the XP machine into thinking its printing locally.

The driver converts the printstream on the XP machine which then just goes into the W7 X-64 spooling system as a standard print stream which your W7 system will print just fine.

Don't try and install any extra drivers on the W7 machine.

Cheers
jimbo

RustyFalcon · 10 Aug 2009

Agreed. This is how I do it. Be sure you share the printer off the W7 machine first into a 'workgroup' since XP cannot use Homegroups. I follow these instructions to share files and printer back to XP from W7: How to make Windows 7 work with older Windows versions for networking and file sharing.

On the XP machine during the process of adding the printer, there is a point where you get prompted and can browse to a folder for the print driver. Do so and let the add printer process use the XP driver on the XP machine.

jimbo45 said:

Hi there
you need to install the driver on the XP MACHINE if you followed the instructions. Note install the XP DRIVER NOT W7 DRIVERS.

The printer is attached to the W7 X-64 machine and is working OK so you don't need to do anything on the W7 machine.

What the method of using the "Local Port" does is "poodlefake" the XP machine into thinking its printing locally.

The driver converts the printstream on the XP machine which then just goes into the W7 X-64 spooling system as a standard print stream which your W7 system will print just fine.

Don't try and install any extra drivers on the W7 machine.

Cheers
jimbo

Nistau · 27 Aug 2009

Thanks Jimbo45!
The solution worked for me.
My OS is W7_64, the printer is attacted to an XP32 system.
Cheers!

wwwebber · 23 Oct 2009

Hi Guys,
I've joined this forum just so that I can get help with this issue so please be gentle

I have an Canon MP610 attached to a system with a new install of Win7 64 installed - it is up and running and working fine. My problem is that I have a laptop connected to the network running Vista 32 and I cannot print to the printer attached to the Win7 64 machine.

I can see the printer on the Vista 32 machine when I search for network printers but it asks for a driver and refuses to use the Visat 32 driver already installed and wont accept the Vista 32 driver downloaded from Canon.

Now I then found this guide thank you but it doesnt work for me. When I type in the port name of \\mymachine\myprinter it then comes back with "Access denied". File sharing works fine and like I said I can see the printer ok over the network.

Can someone please assist here - my other half doesnt know yet that she cant print !!

Jacee · 23 Oct 2009

Did your Canon printer come with an installation CD? I had the same problem with sharing a printer connected to my Win7 desktop and Vista Business laptop.

I Put the CD in Vista to get all the drivers that came with the printer. I made sure that both computers had the same 'work group' name, then I clicked on the printer to share it. To my amazement, it worked! I do have to check back with Vista every once in a while to make sure it hasn't reverted back to Microsoft XPS Document writer as my default printer, tho'.

edit ... I also made sure to turn off my Avira firewall and enable Windows Fire wall. After I printed my test page, I disabled Windows firewall and turned my own back on. Also, disable Windows Defender.

RustyFalcon · 24 Oct 2009

Give the instructions on this link a whirl. This will help ensure you have setup a WORKGROUP which is required when networking to XP and Vista since they are not enabled to participate in the new Windows 7 HomeGroup networking.

There are other little steps that have to be accomplished as well but this article is a good reliable guide to them:

How to make Windows 7 work with older Windows versions for networking and file sharing.

gvwilliaa1 · 25 Oct 2009

Jimbo's instruction work, however, some people are receiving the "Access Denied" error when they try to create the local port. To overcome this do the following on the printer server :-

1) Share Permissions
1. In explorer, go to C:\windows\system32\spool\PRINTERS
2. Right click, Properties
3. Sharing tab
4. Advanced Sharing
5. Check "Share this folder"
6. Permissions
7. Grant everyone Full Control

2) NTFS Permissions
1. In explorer, go to C:\windows\system32\spool\printers
2. Right click, Properties
3. Security tab
4. Edit
5. Add
6. Advanced
7. Find Now
8. Choose "NETWORK"
9. OK
10. Grant NETWORK Full Control

Worked for me, hope it works for you.

Joshatdot · 25 Oct 2009

nothing works...I've tried everything

edit: I think I got it to work. You have to DL the Windows 7 x86 drivers for your printer on the XP machine. On the XP computer you add New Printer, Networked Printer, Browse, find your W7 printer over the network, Next, Yes, Ok, now Browse to where you DL'ed the W7 x86 drivers.

edit 2: FFS! After it was done installing the W7 x86 drivers, it came back

Printer driver setup error. Operation could not be completed.

duracell · 26 Oct 2009

when i open a local printer and add the name of the computer(attached to the printer) and the printers name it gave me a warning that said "network can't found"
i used both the same network (WORKGROUP)

sorry for my english

so what can i do? waiting for your answer

art in WPB · 26 Dec 2009

Jimbo, I tried your "local printer" method and cannot create the port. I get the message" Specified port cannot be added. Operation could not be completed".

Joshatdot, there is an NTPRINT.INF in C:\WINDOWS\inf on your XP system, but that doesn't work for me either. I've tried drivers from the cd that came with my printer (HP deskjet 5550) and that I download from the net. None have worked.