Sharing XP print server with Windows 7 network

[texascarb]

Our home has a mixed-platform network composed of three Windows 7 machines, two Vista machines, and (hopefully) one Windows XP print server. I would love to upgrade the print server to Windows 7, but it doesn't have enough RAM.

How can I connect the Windows XP print server to my home network? I don't need the ability to share files over the network. I simply need to be able to print directly to the laserjet from any of my networked machines.

I've poked around the forums and elsewhere on the Internet, and have come across variants of this question but haven't found any clear-cut instructions that explain how to do this.

Thanks!

Aaron

 

[DocBrown]

Does the Vista & Win7 computers see the XP computer? Have you tried install network printer from all of them? Do you have the XP printer set as sharing?

 

[DocBrown]

Here is my two network printers that are connected to two different XP computers. I can print to either of them from Win7.

 

[texascarb]

Doc Brown,

Nice name. How did you make your network see the XP machine and vice versa? I started over from scratch, and currently have three Windows 7 machines connected to a homegroup. The workgroup name for these machines is "WORKGROUP." This is also the workgroup name for the XP machine. But the Windows 7 machines can't see the XP machine and vice versa.

Should I start over from scratch, bypassing the homegroup process?

Aaron

 

[DocBrown]

My first win7 x86 computer defaulted to setting up the network as their NEW HOMEGROUP thingy. It did not play well with my network. So since then I set up the newer win7 computers I have tested as a Business type network. When I set the printers as shared on the XP computers, then on the win7's I just go to Devices & Printers & select add printer. Then pick add a network printer. I think I remember somewhere to set turn Discovery ON !

 

[DocBrown]

workgroup, MSHOME, Homegroup is to generic & common for the name of your network. You might like using "Texas_Star"
but you have to change the workgroup name on all computers & reboot them.

 

[texascarb]

Thanks, DocBrown. I've changed my workgroup name to something unique and am bypassing the homegroup network. No luck so far, but I think I may be trying too many machines at one time. I'm going to start with the XP print-sharing computer and my wife's Vista-based PC. If I can get those to work, I may be able to add the Windows 7 machines back into the network one at a time.

I love Windows 7, but the use of the word "Homegroup" seems confusing from a usability standpoint. In theory, isn't it possible to have a networked machine identified as a "home location" without using the homegroup network?

Aaron

 

[DocBrown]

Thanks, DocBrown.
I love Windows 7, but the use of the word "Homegroup" seems confusing from a usability standpoint. In theory, isn't it possible to have a networked machine identified as a "home location" without using the homegroup network?

Aaron

I thought it was a confusing name to use, also.

That is why I set it up like the old business network that always worked for me in XP I have only had one Vista machine that I used for a while. Really did not like it Even though I was a LongHorn Beta Tester years ago before it became Vista :huh:

When you get things up & running check out the 7_Forums Desktop Gadget It is really neat & keeps you up to date on what is happening here

And the snipping tool in win7 is fantastic

 

[texascarb]

I'm very frustrated, but am slightly closer to solving this problem. After trying for several hours to see the XP machine on the network, I realized that I might need to upgrade that machine to SP3. Then, I realized that it also needed the Link Layer Protocol Responder added to the system, and a hotfix was required to make this work with SP3. Finally, managed to get all of that sorted out, and here is my current dilemma:

When I go to the network sharing center to view Network Computers and Devices, I can only see the two Windows 7 machines. However, if I click on "See Full Map," I've confirmed that the Windows 7 machines can actually see my XP system on the network. Woo hoo!

But I still cannot add the XP machine's shared printer. Sigh.... Does anyone have any ideas?

Aaron

 

[DocBrown]

I snipped these for you, as this is what is working for me.

 

[DocBrown]

I'm very frustrated, but am slightly closer to solving this problem. After trying for several hours to see the XP machine on the network, I realized that I might need to upgrade that machine to SP3. Then, I realized that it also needed the Link Layer Protocol Responder added to the system, and a hotfix was required to make this work with SP3. Finally, managed to get all of that sorted out, and here is my current dilemma:

When I go to the network sharing center to view Network Computers and Devices, I can only see the two Windows 7 machines. However, if I click on "See Full Map," I've confirmed that the Windows 7 machines can actually see my XP system on the network. Woo hoo!

But I still cannot add the XP machine's shared printer. Sigh.... Does anyone have any ideas?

Aaron

I did not do any Link Layered stuff nor did I have to upgrade all XP machines to SP3, most are still at SP2. :huh:

 

[PokyMovr]

As obvious and these sound, you would be surprised at how many veteran PC guru's forget these.

Did you turn OFF the firewall on the XP box?
Also, did you add the printer and file sharing protocol to the NIC?

 

[sup3rsprt]

EDIT: I didn't realize how old this thread was until now. Anyhow, maybe this info will help someone else in the future.

you would be surprised at how many veteran PC guru's forget ...

turn OFF the firewall on the XP box

disabling the XP firewall is not really necessary (and I wouldn't even recommend it) so long as file and print sharing ports are allowed.

When you go to Network and double-click on the computer with the shared printer, there should be a button like this (see attachment)

Sometimes you have to log in to the computer remotely before you can access the shared printer (at least that is how I have configured my network. In the XP computer, Local Security Policy, I have disabled Anonymous access (also Guest access) as well as "Simple File Sharing").

 

[Nomad8459]

HI, I kind of have a similar issue and question in that I have my PSC 2355 HP printer/scanner/copier connected via USB cable to my desktop which is running windows 7 64 bit, i would like to be able to share this printer with my Compaq Presario laptop which is running windows XP home edition, I don't want to upgrade the laptop to 7 really as the system is very stable and reliable and thus far my new desktop with 7 isnt..

I can stream music from the laptop media player to my desktop and that seems to work, i can also see the laptop for file sharing in the network map on the desktop in 7 but it says that it cant access it, ideally I would like to file share from the desktop to the laptop also but the XP laptop doesn't seem able to see the main desktop PC, I tried the configure home network option in XP and it says i should create a network settings disk which i did by saving to a USB stick but i don't know what to do from there???

Any help appreciated, thanks....

 

[CommonTater]

When I go to the network sharing center to view Network Computers and Devices, I can only see the two Windows 7 machines. However, if I click on "See Full Map," I've confirmed that the Windows 7 machines can actually see my XP system on the network. Woo hoo!

But I still cannot add the XP machine's shared printer. Sigh.... Does anyone have any ideas?

Aaron

The trick here is NOT to bring XP up to Win7... you need to go the other way and set Win7 up to understand XP style sharing... i.e. Workgroups.


Ok... you're using a "Home Network"... ya?

If so then you need to switch to a "Work Network" then in advanced sharing...

Turn on network discovery
Turn on file and printer sharing
Turn off media sharing
Turn off password protected sharing
Turn on User names and Passwords to access other computers.

In your network adaptor properties
Uncheck Internet protocal TCPIP V6
Uncheck both Link Layer topology drivers

Reboot...

Can you see the XP machines now?