Windows Vista Tips

Windows Vista Tips > Newsgroups > Windows Vista Networking > vista & xp on 2 computers, 1 printer- can they share the printer?

Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes

vista & xp on 2 computers, 1 printer- can they share the printer?

 
 
Sarah
Guest
Posts: n/a

 
      05-01-2007
My home network is 2 computers, one is XP (the one the printer USB is hooked
up to), the new one is Vista (the one that is connected wirelessly to the
network). I was able to set up the network and download the driver from
Lexmark's website but it still won't print. It says it can't communicate, but
I can see everything (network, printer) on the Vista. I called Lexmark and
they said that I cannot share a printer if I have 2 different OS and that I
would need to buy a print server. Is that true or is there another way to do
it??!! Thanks to anyone that can help me!
 
Reply With Quote
 
 
 
 
Sarah
Guest
Posts: n/a

 
      05-01-2007
I can see the xp's files from the vista, but I can't see the vista's files
from the xp. I think I can fix that, but I still don't know why it won't let
me print from the vista...

"Chuck" wrote:

> On Tue, 1 May 2007 12:40:01 -0700, Sarah <>
> wrote:
>
> >My home network is 2 computers, one is XP (the one the printer USB is hooked
> >up to), the new one is Vista (the one that is connected wirelessly to the
> >network). I was able to set up the network and download the driver from
> >Lexmark's website but it still won't print. It says it can't communicate, but
> >I can see everything (network, printer) on the Vista. I called Lexmark and
> >they said that I cannot share a printer if I have 2 different OS and that I
> >would need to buy a print server. Is that true or is there another way to do
> >it??!! Thanks to anyone that can help me!

>
> Sarah,
>
> A computer running Windows XP (or any other version of Windows) is capable of
> sharing resources with a computer running Windows Vista. It's possible, though,
> that the Lexmark drivers won't support Vista. Can you share files between the 2
> computers? That's where I would start. Get file sharing, in general, working,
> then work on printer sharing.
> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/12/windows-xp-and-vista-on-lan-together.html>
> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/1...-together.html
>
> --
> Cheers,
> Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
> Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
> My email is AT DOT
> actual address pchuck mvps org.
>

 
Reply With Quote
 
Chuck
Guest
Posts: n/a

 
      05-01-2007
On Tue, 1 May 2007 12:40:01 -0700, Sarah <>
wrote:

>My home network is 2 computers, one is XP (the one the printer USB is hooked
>up to), the new one is Vista (the one that is connected wirelessly to the
>network). I was able to set up the network and download the driver from
>Lexmark's website but it still won't print. It says it can't communicate, but
>I can see everything (network, printer) on the Vista. I called Lexmark and
>they said that I cannot share a printer if I have 2 different OS and that I
>would need to buy a print server. Is that true or is there another way to do
>it??!! Thanks to anyone that can help me!


Sarah,

A computer running Windows XP (or any other version of Windows) is capable of
sharing resources with a computer running Windows Vista. It's possible, though,
that the Lexmark drivers won't support Vista. Can you share files between the 2
computers? That's where I would start. Get file sharing, in general, working,
then work on printer sharing.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/12/windows-xp-and-vista-on-lan-together.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/1...-together.html

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.
 
Reply With Quote
 
Chuck
Guest
Posts: n/a

 
      05-01-2007
On Tue, 1 May 2007 13:22:01 -0700, Sarah <>
wrote:

>"Chuck" wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 1 May 2007 12:40:01 -0700, Sarah <>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >My home network is 2 computers, one is XP (the one the printer USB is hooked
>> >up to), the new one is Vista (the one that is connected wirelessly to the
>> >network). I was able to set up the network and download the driver from
>> >Lexmark's website but it still won't print. It says it can't communicate, but
>> >I can see everything (network, printer) on the Vista. I called Lexmark and
>> >they said that I cannot share a printer if I have 2 different OS and that I
>> >would need to buy a print server. Is that true or is there another way to do
>> >it??!! Thanks to anyone that can help me!

>>
>> Sarah,
>>
>> A computer running Windows XP (or any other version of Windows) is capable of
>> sharing resources with a computer running Windows Vista. It's possible, though,
>> that the Lexmark drivers won't support Vista. Can you share files between the 2
>> computers? That's where I would start. Get file sharing, in general, working,
>> then work on printer sharing.
>> <http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/12/windows-xp-and-vista-on-lan-together.html>
>> http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/1...-together.html


>I can see the xp's files from the vista, but I can't see the vista's files
>from the xp. I think I can fix that, but I still don't know why it won't let
>me print from the vista...


Sarah,

Network printing works through the same subsystem that file sharing works
through, but it involves more drivers. Every printer comes with its own set of
drivers, which are frequently specific to the operating system.

It's possible that your printer is not compatible with Vista, or that Lexmark
simply hasn't written Vista drivers for it. That being the case, the Lexmark
tech support folks want you to host the printer on a print server (a separate
computer, with its own operating system), and you would print using generic
drivers.

It's also possible that they don't know why you are having a problem, and they
are blowing you off.

If you believe that the latter might be true, than it is up to you to diagnose
the problem. That's why I am suggesting that you get file sharing working,
because file sharing and printer sharing work on top of Windows Networking.
Printer sharing, when it works, requires additional drivers, which as I state
above, have to be supplied by Lexmark.

Do you see the complexities here?

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.
 
Reply With Quote
 
 
 
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Printer sharing between XP and Vista computers on same network Rocketman Windows Vista Networking 4 10-19-2007 10:31 PM
Sharing printer with Vista and XP computers Lorraine Windows Vista Printing / Faxing / Scanning 3 09-11-2007 06:46 PM
can't share printer with Vista Patrick Windows Vista Administration 0 06-23-2007 10:02 AM
Sharing Printer in Vista with XP computers in same Workgroup... Dave with hammer to hit any key Windows Vista Printing / Faxing / Scanning 5 06-22-2007 04:33 PM
Cannot share printer between Vista and XP Birk Binnard Windows Vista Printing / Faxing / Scanning 3 03-25-2007 10:17 PM



1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59