Shared printer - Others can't print when my pc is off

[TankVul]

Hi,
in the beginning, I should say the printer is NOT connected to the pc.
I have a shared printer in the network. It's connected via cable to one router. There are usually just two devices (besides the printer, plus phones etc..) in the network: my pc (W7 U 64) - connected to the same router via cable and notebook (W7) - connected via wifi to the same router.
When my pc is on, the notebook can print without any problems, but when it is off, I can see the printer on my notebook, I can try to print stuff, but it only goes to queue and starts to actually print when I turn my pc on.
It is just small home network.
Printer: Ricoh Aficio 3400S but we use 4100N drivers because of the system compatibility

Thanks for your help!

 

[Kari]

Sounds as if the network printer is not installed as a network printer on the other devices. If it is installed as a shared printer (YourPC_Name\Printer_Name), it will naturally only work when your PC is on because the other devices do not search the printer from the network but instead try to connect to it over your PC.

The solution is simple, the printer needs to be installed as network printer on all devices, allowing all devices to connect to it directly instead of over your PC.