Vista to XP networking?

I

Invoice

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Dec 3, 2006
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I'll admit it. I'm not the sharpest knife in the box when it comes to computers.
I have a new laptop with Vista. I can not get it to hook up with my PC.
All I really want to do is connect to my printers.
I tried all the wizards I think and I still can not print stuff from the Laptop.
Any help will be much appreciated!
 
They told me that one printer has to be hard wired to the printer and on before the networked computer could print. Either that or you need a device to wirelessly network your printer to both your computers.
 
I bought a HP 4380 Wireless Printer and use it from the desktop and laptop, both connect thru the wireless router. Very happy with it considering the cost.
Jim
 
If you have a USB printer (only connects from USB) you'll need a way to attach it directly to the network (Apple has a built in USB port for that task on their wireless products). If you have a LAN capable computer that is network capable then you just wire it into the network and set it up with the likely bundled software, hope that helps.
 
If your printer is connected to the network, all you have to do is manually install it using the printer's IP address.

You can find the IP address by looking in the properties of the printer on another computer that is already connected to it.

Control Panel>Printers>Add Printer>Add a local printer>create a new port>use drop down menu to select TCP/IP port>use drop down menu to select TCP/IP device and enter IP address in box and name the printer in the next box
 
Networking a new Vista laptop to your home office desktop with XP is EASY!, a nice wireless router, a couple connections to the desktop and power, and an install CD and you're good to go. Printers on the other hand, can get a bit trickier.

Like others said, many printers need to be hooked up to the wireless network, and many wireless routers provide for multiple devices to be patched into them. Check your wireless router and see if you can get a USB cable that will connect your printer to the router.
 
jonnymac44 said:
Networking a new Vista laptop to your home office desktop with XP is EASY!, a nice wireless router, a couple connections to the desktop and power, and an install CD and you're good to go. Printers on the other hand, can get a bit trickier.

Like others said, many printers need to be hooked up to the wireless network, and many wireless routers provide for multiple devices to be patched into them. Check your wireless router and see if you can get a USB cable that will connect your printer to the router.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't you need an ethernet connection from the router to the printer if you wanted to use your printer as a network printer?
 
mycroftt said:
Wouldn't you need an ethernet connection from the router to the printer if you wanted to use your printer as a network printer?
Click to expand...

Not always, now days new printers usually do support a Cat 5 network connection, but a lot of new wireless base stations have a built in USB plug integrated into the network, can be used to wirelessly share Harddrives printers, you get it.
 
65535 said:
Not always, now days new printers usually do support a Cat 5 network connection, but a lot of new wireless base stations have a built in USB plug integrated into the network, can be used to wirelessly share Harddrives printers, you get it.
Click to expand...

Could you plug a USB hard drive into it and use it as a network drive?
 
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