XP to 7 Printer sharing

[keredd]

jimbo45

Thank you! It worked perfectly. I have added your instructions to my One note!

p.s. referring to your post from 04-22-2009

 

[duartejoe]

Still trying

Jimbo,

I have seen the printer over the network. Tried the local port \\computer name\printer and chose the driver (which is the driver I use when usb printing directly from laptop to to that printer.
Green bar keeps moving and never installing the printer...


Any thoughts?

Laptop is Win7 64
Desktop with usb printer Lexmark X5450 is running XP Pro sp3

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
1) Does the printer work on the XP system - I assume it does.

2) Have you defined the printer as a SHARED printer and given it a name.
Don't install any EXTRA drivers on the XP system..

3) when you try and install the printer on the W7 system you should get a message when installing the driver to either load the W7 driver CD or use Windows update.


(If drivers exist already on your system -- uninstall and delete the printer on the W7 system and start again from scratch).

If you have the disk use that otherwise use Windows update -- but it takes a LONG time (up to 10 - 15 mins) to download all the manufacturers and then you have to set Lexmark and choose the driver.

Don't also use home groups until you've got this working.

It's possible that you might not have any W7 x-64 drivers -- in this case use VISTA ones.

If there aren't any x-64 drivers for this printer then you've had it I'm afraid.

Cheers

jimbo

 

[duartejoe]

Thanks Jimbo

Hi there
1) Does the printer work on the XP system - I assume it does.

Yes

2) Have you defined the printer as a SHARED printer and given it a name.
Don't install any EXTRA drivers on the XP system..

I did share it and name it and have Not installed extra drivers

3) when you try and install the printer on the Windows 7 system you should get a message when installing the driver to either load the Windows 7 driver CD or use Windows update.


(If drivers exist already on your system -- uninstall and delete the printer on the Windows 7 system and start again from scratch).

If you have the disk use that otherwise use Windows update -- but it takes a LONG time (up to 10 - 15 mins) to download all the manufacturers and then you have to set Lexmark and choose the driver.

I know how to remove the device, but to uninstall the drivers...hmmmmn Not sure

Don't also use home groups until you've got this working.

I left the group (no other devices ever were in the group) I guess that's fine...

It's possible that you might not have any Windows 7 x-64 drivers -- in this case use VISTA ones.

If there aren't any x-64 drivers for this printer then you've had it I'm afraid.

Well, when I plugged the usb printer into the Win 7 laptop, drivers installed...


Thanks,

Joe

 

[nleviet]

Windows 7 cannot see a printer shared by XP.

Hi,

I am not sure if this post is still open but I will add some thought to it. I encounter the same problems as many here: connect new Windows 7 computer to a network and unable to add a printer shared by Windows XP. Other computers running Windows 7 were able to access the printer without any problems.

After going around few things on both systems, I found out that the firewall that was installed by default on Windows 7 prevented me to accept and send Netbios Name service requests. This firewall (ESET) came by default with a Toshiba laptop and was configured to drop all Naming Service requests. Once I disabled this rules, I was able to see the computer running XP and add the shared printer without any problems and Windows 7 automatically detected the driver.

Hope this helps,

Nam

 

[mitsilad]

Windows 7 64 bit to XP Pro SP3

I have just obtained my first Windows 7 based computer (W7 Home Premium 64 bit) and have found adding printers an interesting experience. I have successfully loaded two new drivers for the printers connected directly, via USB, to the computer.
However, I have a HP Laserjet 1200 connected to my XP Pro SP3 computer. All the computers are connected via a wired network/router.
I followed jimbo45's instructions (22nd April 2009) but of course W7 does not have a driver to load. Windows Update did not find one and HP say that I do not need one. Where to now? Please help, I know that I am out of my depth.
(Jimbo45, your instructions were far clearer than HP's.)

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there

I can't believe the original post is getting on for 3 years old -- only seems like YESTERDAY that W7 was released.

If Windows or HP can't find a 64 bit driver for your printer then unfortunately you are out of Luck -- however try this link

If you can't find the W7 driver try the "Universal drivers.

HP LaserJet 1200 Printer series*-* Download drivers and software - HP Business Support Center

Cheers
jimbo

 

[mitsilad]

Thanks Jimbo.
Yeah I am probably a bit behind. I did not switch to XP until my old machine was too slow for the family's likes.
Good posts and helpful information always remain helpful even three years later.

The problem seems to be that HP, on going to their site, say that a W7 driver is not needed as W7 will find one. However W7 and web update cannot find one. A real catch 22 situation.

I will now look at the universal drivers.

cheers
Mitsilad

 

[ThanksJimbo45]

Thanks to Jimbo45 for a solution that works

Only just migrated to Windows 7 on my laptop but everything else in my work and home environment is still on XP which includes the PCs that are sharing their printers. The last time (a few weeks ago) I tried to find a solution to printing from the W7 machine to a shared printer on an XP machine nothing useful came up in the search results - nothing on the printer manufacturer's website, nothing from MS, no mention that I should be adding a local printer!

SO A HUGE THANKS TO JIMBO45 FOR EXPLAINING THIS 'MYSTERY' SOLUTION - I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT YOU HAVE IN THE PAST OR WILL AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE BE REWARDED BY BILLY FOR DOING HIS WORK FOR HIM!

For anyone else who encounters this scenario the solution is on the first page of this thread - and just as sharing a printer should be easy I copy Jimbo's procedure here for quick reference... Note, it is steps 3, 4 and 5 that make all the difference to all the other suggestions out there.

Hi Mods
Maybe you can make this a sticky -- often comes up and I posted a solution yesterday which works.
..............extract from previous post .....
Hi there
I've posted on this before but to share Printers attached to XP computers with either X-64 or X-32 versions of W7 is SIMPLE. These instructions are for the Printer attached to the XP machine (but works in reverse as well).

("Stand alone" Network printers can be done slightly similarly BTW).

assume the computers are call XPMACHINE and W7MACHINE.

1) Ensure Printer on XP machine is shared - assume it's called SHAREDPRINTER.

2) On the Network Browsing on your W7 machine ensure you can "See" the Printer share.

Now on the W7 machine do the following (doesn't matter if it's X-86 or x-64).

3) Control Panel==> add LOCAL (Yes LOCAL) printer. I know it's on a Network but hold your horses -- what we are actually doing is "Poodlefaking" the W7 machine into thinking it's running the printer.

4) Create NEW port==>Local port

5) Portname is \\XPMACHINE\SHAREDPRINTER

6) Now W7 will load a driver and you'll be able to print on the XP machine.

Simple

(For a "Network stand alone printer") at 4) chose TCPIP port
and at 5) enter the IP address.


If the printer is on the W7 machine and you want to print on the XP machine then do the same instructions on the XP machine --
port name in this case will be \\W7MACHINE\SHAREDPRINTER

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Essiar]

Unfortunately, it doen't work the other way around.

Printing from a W7 computer to an XP printer is one thing, but printing from an XP computer to a printer connected to a W7 Homegroup doesn't work. Oh sure, you can make it work once, till you reboot the XP machine. Then it always loses the W7 homegroup network. As you can read previously in this thread, I have tried for days, it just isn't possible. My daughter has to email me her work, then I print it. Other option I assume is get a network printer on the router or get her a W7 laptop. If anyone has had permanent success with printing from an XP machine to a printer on a W7 Homegroup, I'd love to hear about it.

 

[pikalax]

Just a quick note... Some of the problems are related to DHCP or dynamic IP addresses on a network. When you install a network printer, the client PC expects the printer to be at a particular IP address. If your print host is on a dynamic address, you need to reconfigure it to use a static IP. This can be done in the router settings.

 

[pikalax]

Here's something interesting. My problems stemmed from the fact that the network printer was hooked up to an XP computer that had a dynamic IP protocol on the router. When the Win7 PC looks for the printer, it uses the IP under which it was installed, which may be different from the current IP address. It does not look for the domain name.

Always ensure that network printers are on a static IP address prior to installation. This will allow your computer to find the printer even if it spends some time offline.

 

[DTECH]

Sharing problems from XP to Win7 64bit

I have had trying this Friday, i worked late and I probably did the same thing a hundred times. Im trying to share a printer from Win XP to Win7 64bit, and its killing me, went to add printer and tried scanning the network and was successful finding the printer, the problem lies in connecting to the printer....HELPPP!!!

 

[WindowsStar]

@Dtech

Most likely you will never share the printer that way. I would just not do it that way. Windows XP 32 bit, Windows 7 64bit, different drivers, different OS. Trust me skip all the trouble with this and buy a USB to Network adaptor (super cheap) and put the printer on the network. So quick, so easy and will work no matter if Shared Printer's Computer is on or off. This way the Workstation controls the drivers (x64 or x86) and prints directly from the workstation to the printer. Done this hundreds of times, works perfectly! -WS

 

[keredd]

I have had trying this Friday, i worked late and I probably did the same thing a hundred times. Im trying to share a printer from Win XP to Windows 7 64bit, and its killing me, went to add printer and tried scanning the network and was successful finding the printer, the problem lies in connecting to the printer....HELPPP!!!

The first thing to check is to make sure you have the driver for the printer installed on your Win 7 machine even though the printer is actually attached to your XP machine. Then follow the instructions left by jimbo45

 

[mbeard1701]

I have a Dell XPS 4150 XP Pro machine with a Canon MP530 printer attached. This printer is shared and works just fine on the 3 other XP machines that I have. However it will not work with the 4 Win 7 machines. You state:


1) Ensure Printer on XP machine is shared - assume it's called SHAREDPRINTER.

2) On the Network Browsing on your W7 machine ensure you can "See" the Printer share.


What if the Win 7 machine DOES NOT "See" the printer share? It is obviously shared as it is seen on the three XP machines. I have tried to enter \\DELL4150\MP530 (which is the computer name and printer name) but it always asks me for the "Windows Security, Enter Network Password, Username and Password" even though I have NEVER set any passwords on any of these computers.

HELP please!

 

[WindowsStar]

I have a Dell XPS 4150 XP Pro machine with a Canon MP530 printer attached. This printer is shared and works just fine on the 3 other XP machines that I have. However it will not work with the 4 Win 7 machines. You state:


1) Ensure Printer on XP machine is shared - assume it's called SHAREDPRINTER.

2) On the Network Browsing on your W7 machine ensure you can "See" the Printer share.


What if the Win 7 machine DOES NOT "See" the printer share? It is obviously shared as it is seen on the three XP machines. I have tried to enter \\DELL4150\MP530 (which is the computer name and printer name) but it always asks me for the "Windows Security, Enter Network Password, Username and Password" even though I have NEVER set any passwords on any of these computers.

HELP please!

As I have state several times in this thread you are much better off adding this printer to the network. -Ws

See: http://www.sevenforums.com/network-sharing/4602-xp-7-printer-sharing-4.html#post2098337

 

[mbeard1701]

As I have state several times in this thread you are much better off adding this printer to the network. -Ws

What does this mean? The printer is ON the network. I can print from the three XP machines with no problem - it is only the Windows 7 machines that do not recognize the printer is there. I can transfer files to/from the two XP machines and the three Win7 machines but the files on the Dell XP machine and the printer on the Dell XP machine are NOT accessible by the Win7 machines. Every time I try to access the Dell XP machine (to access the XP files or to install the networked Canon MP530 printer), from any of the Win7 machines, a popup window titled "Windows Security" and asking me to "Enter Network Password" with entry boxes titled "Username" and "Password" appears.

 

[WindowsStar]

@mbeard1701

In your post you state: 1) Ensure Printer on XP machine is shared - assume it's called SHAREDPRINTER.

That is a SHARED printer off a computer that is not a printer on the network. The printer on the network means it has an ethernet wire directly into the printer no computer involved. Are you saying you are NOT sharing this printer on a computer. If that is the case you should not be having any issues at all. Please let me know if I got this wrong. -WS

 

[mbeard1701]

Networked Printer

Okay, the printer is NOT on the "network" as it is NOT connected via ethernet cable (no such connection on this printer) but it IS on the network as displayed by Windows XP and Windows 7 "Network" icon.

The issue is that I get the popup window titled "Windows Security" and asking me to "Enter Network Password" with entry boxes titled "Username" and "Password" any time I try to access that one particular computer (Dell4150) from any of my Win7 machines. I have even installed Win7 (replacing the XP) on the Dell4150 and whenever I attempt to access the Dell4150 (from a Win7 machine) I still get the popup window titled "Windows Security" and asking me to "Enter Network Password" with entry boxes titled "Username" and "Password" but I have full access to the Dell4150 when I access the Dell4150 (Win7) from the XP machines.

On the Dell4150 and all Win7 machines, I have turned on "Network Discover" "File and Printer sharing" "Public Folder Sharing" "Use 128 bit encryption..." and TURNED OFF "Password Protected Sharing" but I still get the same popup that I've been getting since my first post!

To "fix" this situation, I had to move the printer connection to a different XP machine and it now works just fine - from the XP machines and the Win7 machines BUT I would really like to know how to access this one Win7 machine (Dell4150) without entering a Network Password and Username which I do not know as I did not set them AND Password Protected Sharing is TURNED OFF!