Need Printer Help

[laceykohlman]

I am sure that this has already been answered somewhere on this site, but I can’t find what I need. I have 3 computers connected to my network/homegroup. I have 2 laptops both running Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit and a netbook running windows 7 Starter 32bit. I have a HP F4400 printer hooked up to one of the laptops as the network printer. It prints fine from both laptops, the one it is connected to and the other through the network. I installed the network printer on the netbook, it shows that it is there and ready but when I try to print anything nothing happens at the printer. When I try to print a test page, it immediately says Test Page Failed. I checked the network and sharing settings on all 3 computers and they are all set the same. I also uncheck the bidirectional printing. Any suggestions?

 

[kegobeer]

How did you install the drivers on the netbook? Did you download 32 bit drivers from HP? Did you have to create a local port and put in the IP address of the printer?

Do you have any security software installed on the netbook? Can you share files between all three computers, or do you have trouble getting to shared files from the netbook?

 

[laceykohlman]

When I added it to the netbook I did it just like the other laptop. I went in and went to add a printer --> Network printer. and it installed the driver on its own. I went in to Print server properties on the netbook and it says the installed drivers are for x86 processor and the type is Type 3 -User Mode.

I have Avast antivirus but I just put that on the netbook, I've been trying to figure this problem out for about 4 months now. I can share files with no problems on all 3 computers.

 

[play2mefish]

I would do the following:

1. Hook the printer directly to the netbook and see if it can print to it.
2. If it prints to it, then disconnect the printer and move it back to the laptop it is normally installed on
3. change or add the printer port of the printer icon that worked on the netbook to match the following syntax: \\laptopname\printersharename
4. If it the printer doesn't print in step two, then resolve that issue before moving onto step 3.

Since you're sharing files between all three pcs, then it is not a user name issue. Let us know what you find...

 

[laceykohlman]

It prints just fine when connected to the netbook directly. How do I change or add the printer port?

 

[play2mefish]

1. Goto device and printers
2. Right click the printer icon that works, and then click printer properties
3. Click the Ports tab
4. Click Add port
5. Select local port and then click new port
6. Enter a valid URL to the printer: \\laptopname\printersharename
7. Click OK
8. Confirm that the printer icon is now pointing to the new port (by viewing it in the Ports window)
9. Try printing something to it...

You should be good to go!