[jillbluejack]

Hi. We recently bought a second computer & a wireless Linksys WRT54G router. Our older computer has windows XP & we're using a wireless g usb flash drive to connect wirelessly with the router which is connected to the new Vista comp. My husband set it up so I hope I'm giving all right information. I know the network works, because the older XP computer is able to access the internet & shared files from our newer Vista computer.

BUT - documents on the XP won't print! I get an error that the computer isn't ready to print. The printer is Epson Stylus CX7800 Series & is connected directly to the new Acer computer with Windows Vista upstairs (which the router is connected to). Now, before I decided to ask for help here, I have searched the web & saw that many others are having network printer problems. I also tried the help section in my XP & vista computers & followed all their instructions for sharing a printer. I found on a couple websites the fix where you go to add a printer using the local port typing \\computer name/printer name, but I got an error that the network path or something like that wasn't found. I reread the instructions not understanding what I did wrong, because I did exactly what it said. Then I realized that the fix suggested on all those websites was for when the printer was hooked up to the Windows XP computer & a Vista computer was trying to print from the network. My printer is hooked up to the Vista computer so its the XP printer thats trying to print.

I know my vista has the epson driver installed obviously, because we use this computer to print with no problem. I check the networking/printer/file sharing sticky on geekstogo for help and I got stuck in the sharing section where it said to click on additional drivers & select the other/older operating system that would be using the printer. It didn't show Windows xp, 98 etc. Under processor it has Itanium, x64, x86. So I'm confused & totally at a loss as to how to get the printer to print downstairs on the network.

I am using the paid AVG Security suite with their firewall, so my Windows defender firewall is off. Is there something I need to configure with the Linksys router settings? Any help in easy language would be appreciated. Thanks a bunch!

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Hi jillbluejack
Welcome to G2G
On the Vista Machine can you click on Start > Control panel>printers.
On the printer does it have a small logo that looks like 2 people - This shows if the printer is shared.
Cheers
Peterm

[peterm]

Hi jillbluejack
Welcome to G2G
On the Vista Machine can you click on Start > Control panel>printers.
On the printer does it have a small logo that looks like 2 people - This shows if the printer is shared.
Cheers
Peterm

[jillbluejack]

Yes it does - have the 2 person icon that is. I have enabled printer sharing on both computers.

[peterm]

I got stuck in the sharing section where it said to click on additional drivers & select the other/older operating system that would be using the printer. It didn't show Windows xp, 98 etc. Under processor it has Itanium, x64, x86.

Don't worry about this part.

Ok all we can do is check the basics to start with.
On the XP machine
Click on start Right click on My Network Places Click on Properties
Right click on Local area connection Click on properties
Click on TCP/IP Click on advanced Click on WINS tab Click on Enable netbios over tcp/ip click ok click ok click ok
Also on the XP machine click on start>control panel>Administrative tools>Services
Scroll down to print spooler Under status does it say started if not right click and choose start. Exit out of services.
go to printers in control panel and add a printer choose a network printer does the printer show up ? if yes continue with the wizard. If not come back to me.
Cheers
peterm