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View Full Version : Can't access printer from 2nd computer on home network



barebear
03-30-2007, 05:57 PM
I have a home network with 2 computers in the same
workgroup; they both run XP Pro SP2 fully updated and I used the
network setup wizard in control panel to set the network up on both computers.
They are cabled through a Linksys BEFSR41 router which is behind my
DSLmodem.

The first computer is on the first port of the router and is the one I
first used the network wizard on, its IP address shows as 198.162.1.101
when the IPconfig command is entered. It has a HP 6540 printer
connected by USB; in Control Panel it shows as shared just like the items in My
Network Places.

The second computer shows an IP of 198.162.1.100. Just for the sake of
information, My ISP gives me a static IP address.

I have absolutely no issues using the second computer to access all
files and folders on the first, and no issues vice versa. Because I'm
behind the router I do not use any software firewall; the Windows
firewall is disabled on both computers and I've even unchecked both
boxes under the "advanced" tab. File and printer sharing is of course
totally enabled on both computers.

I have double checked the "sharing"
and "security" tabs on every folder on both computers to make sure that
sharing is enabled and that all user groups set up by XP ( I have
created no user group, and am the only account (Administrator) on either computer )
have full permissions for all folders on both computers.

When My Network Places is opened on either computer, all the drives, and
shared ocuments folders that should be there are.

The HP 6540 printer works flawlessly on the computer it is attached to.

Both computers function flawlessly in all respects, have
full-time daily updated anti-virus, and multiple anti-malware
protections with scheduled scans that run when I'm not using the
systems.

My problem:
I decided to have the HP 6540 printer available to me from the second computer
so that I could print directly from there rather than having to
transfer things to the first computer and then print them.
I used the "add a printer" function in Control Panel>Printers and Faxes
on the second computer to facilitate using the printer on the first;
when completed, the printer showed as HP Deskjet 6500 series on (name
of first computer), showed the same type of icon as all the items in My
Network Places, and was checked as default printer.
When I right clicked the printer icon and then clicked "properties" and
tried to print a test page, I got the message "Test page failed to print........".

HP's email and chat support were not able to help----I sent them all of the above information. If it will help, I can provide details of the things they had me try.

Please advise steps to take to enable printing from the second computer.