Solved Printer Sharing in Workgroup Not Working

[Win7rap]

Desktop - Win 7, 64 bit ... 'hard-wired' to router
Laptop - Win 7, 32 bit ... connects wirelessly to router
Both have Workgroup Name=DESKPTR
Can't 'see' local printer (attached to desktop via USB) at laptop

Wife (who doesn't like computers) is learning to use laptop and I want her to be able to print emails (etc) w/o joining a group or being required to enter a password. Want her to be connected to workgroup automatically.

Undoubtedly I've messed up the network settings - can access the Internet but that's all.

 

[Ztruker]

Did you share the printer on the Desktop? That's the first step.

Read here: Share a printer

 

[Win7rap]

Had gone to 'change advance sharing settings' and set it to 'share printer' and turned 'discovery of network' previously ... however, when checked just now I found that while the printer was still shared, the 'discovery of networks' had been reset to OFF. (Also printer was shared by name in Printer Properties.)

After a little digging I found that the 'DNS Client' service was disabled.

Set it to automatic (Will that affect my desktop or the Internet connection at the laptop?)

Will check laptop tomorrow ... (to be continued)

 

[Win7rap]

tired but no joy ... at least having turned on DNS Client doesn't seem to cause a problem.

Attached:
Desktop Network and Sharing
Desktop Advanced Sharing Settings
Desktop Local Printer Properties
Laptop Network and Sharing
Laptop Advanced Sharing Settings

 

[Ztruker]

On the Desktop, open a Command Prompt.

Copy and paste the following into the Run box (see here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/87750-run-command-enable-disable.html) to enable the Run box if it's not already enabled.

net share > netshare.txt & notepad netshare.txt & del netshare.txt

A notepad window will open with the output of the net share command. Copy and paste that into a reply here then close the notepad window. When you do, netshare.txt will be deleted.

 

[Win7rap]

Done:

Share name Resource Remark

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IPC$ Remote IPC
C$ C:\ Default share
D$ D:\ Default share
print$ C:\Windows\system32\spool\drivers
Printer Drivers
F$ F:\ Default share
ADMIN$ C:\Windows Remote Admin
audiobooks C:\XPBooks\BOOKS\audiobooks
Users C:\Users
Epson Stylus C88 Series (M)
USB001 Spooled Epson Stylus C88 Series (M)
The command completed successfully.

=========================================================
Was just thinking - should I install the printer driver on the laptop?

 

[Win7rap]

GOOD NEWS
Added a network printer at laptop ... let it search for available printers ... found the local ptr on the desktop ... added that one - then did a 'test print'. Worked !!

Local printer was shared from the start, but suspect that turning 'network discovery' on is what did the trick.

 

[Ztruker]

Excellent. Glad to hear you got it working.