Using windows 7 desktop as a print server via router!

[Nomad8459]

Hi, I have a quad core 8GB ram desktop system which has most of my hardware connected to it like external hdd, external dvd and printer/scanner/copier, this system is running Windows 7 64bit.

I also have a Compaq presario laptop running windows XP 32 bit, the laptop is extremely stable and works really well so i do not want to upgrade it to win 7 just yet, but I would like to be able to connect via my netgear wireless router to use my desktop as a print server.

The laptop has a built in wireless LAN card and this connects to the internet through the router, the router is hard wired to the desktop.

My desktop has the IP 192.168.0.5

The router is IP 192.168.0.1

The laptop is IP 192.168.0.2

I can share media player from the laptop and play music files on my desktop PC but dont seem to be able to do it the other way round, when i view the network map on the desktop it can see my laptop for file sharing (pictures) but cant seem to access them.

How would i go about setting up a network for these two machines so that the laptop can print vis the router and desktop and also so that the XP machine can see the files that are on my desktop running Windows 7???

I have looked at the home group aspect but it seems to suggest that i need to be running windows 7 on both systems for that to work.

Any help appreciated.... thanks

 

[Tepid]

Basically, you would share the printer and access the printer through the share on the laptop.

You have to setup the Share on the Printer itself though first.

Also, you may need to share other folder locations if they are not shared by default.
ie. the desktop is not a shared resource by default.

Also, on the XP machine you need to install a patch for ..... Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) Responder (KB922120)

 

[Nomad8459]

Hi, not sure that helps me really...... thanks though... not a real tech bod i am afraid but like the idea of being able to do it.

 

[Tepid]

If you go into Printers on the 7 System which is where you have the printer installed and connected to
Right Click the Printer and click on Sharing
Setup the Share
Then map to it from the XP machine.

This may help
sharing a printer - Bing


And this with sharing over all
share files between win7 and xp - Bing

 

[Nomad8459]

Thanks, i will try and explore these options......

 

[CommonTater]

If you go into Printers on the 7 System which is where you have the printer installed and connected to
Right Click the Printer and click on Sharing
Setup the Share
Then map to it from the XP machine.

This may help
sharing a printer - Bing


And this with sharing over all
share files between win7 and xp - Bing

As Tepid says... share the printer on Win7... check in Network and Sharing -> advanced sharing and be sure that "File and Printer Sharing" is enabled.

On the XP machine the "add printer" wizard should find the printer and install a small protocal driver for it. From there it's the same as printing on a local printer except the pages are spit out over there... instead of over here.