Can Mac and PC Share files, printer on home network?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jack B
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J

Jack B

My brother just got Sprint "high speed" internet access using a wireless
receiver that plugs into a special wireless router. His PC is plugged into
the router with ethernet, and his daughter's Mac has wireless access. They
both get the internet, and email with no problem. However, the Mac user
wants to use the printer hooked to the PC, and they have been unable to do
that. I had set up a home network when I was last there, and both computers
have sharing turned on, but they do not seem to see each other.

I guess my main question before I get too far into this is should it work?
That is, are a Mac and PC able to share files/printers on a small home
network like this? If the answer is yes, then could someone point me in the
right direction as to how to get this working?

Thanks,

Jack
 
Jack said:
My brother just got Sprint "high speed" internet access using a wireless
receiver that plugs into a special wireless router. His PC is plugged
into the router with ethernet, and his daughter's Mac has wireless
access. They both get the internet, and email with no problem.
However, the Mac user wants to use the printer hooked to the PC, and
they have been unable to do that. I had set up a home network when I
was last there, and both computers have sharing turned on, but they do
not seem to see each other.

I guess my main question before I get too far into this is should it
work? That is, are a Mac and PC able to share files/printers on a small
home network like this? If the answer is yes, then could someone point
me in the right direction as to how to get this working?

Thanks,

Jack
Click to expand...

There is a recipe here, but I expect in general this would be a bumpy ride.
Mainly because I don't know what it takes to set up a workgroup properly.

"Printing to a printer on a Windows XP PC from a Mac running 10.4.x"
http://www.ifelix.co.uk/tech/3015.html

Another link I found, which may help when you try to share files.

"Mac OS X 10.2: How to Change the Windows File Sharing Workgroup"
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107137

And another recipe for setting up MAc to Win printing. It mentions
the firewall in WinXP SP2 as a possible barrier:

http://iharder.sourceforge.net/current/macosx/winmacprinter/

The main problem with stuff like this, is finding the appropriate
terminology and exactly what protocol stack or paths are being
used. I started with a Google thread, to find the above links.
It would be better to find an article that describes all the
printing paths that MacOSX can use, and whether it is limited
to Postscript printing or not.

http://groups.google.ca/group/comp...._frm/thread/b0d951426dbee664/a3d7506282bf7993

Paul
 
Getting wireless and wired computers to see each other is something I've
never been able to do. It's either wired seeing wired or wireless seeing
wireless. Look into your router's setup.
 
Getting wireless and wired computers to see each other is something I've
never been able to do. It's either wired seeing wired or wireless seeing
wireless. Look into your router's setup.
Click to expand...

Hmmm ... My laptop hooks fine into the network, whether I use a wire or
wireless card. Sometimes the router thinks it's still on one or the
other, if I change it over fast though. So, I have to reset things.
 
I have no problem with wired and wireless computers sharing on my home
network, but all are windows, no macs.
 
My brother just got Sprint "high speed" internet access using a wireless
receiver that plugs into a special wireless router. His PC is plugged into
the router with ethernet, and his daughter's Mac has wireless access. They
both get the internet, and email with no problem. However, the Mac user
wants to use the printer hooked to the PC, and they have been unable to do
that. I had set up a home network when I was last there, and both computers
have sharing turned on, but they do not seem to see each other.

I guess my main question before I get too far into this is should it work?
That is, are a Mac and PC able to share files/printers on a small home
network like this? If the answer is yes, then could someone point me in the
right direction as to how to get this working?

Thanks,

Jack
Click to expand...

I used to have "almost" the same set up ... the only thing I have more
is the "printer adapter" that goes from centronics/pararallel to
ethernet. Then the printer would be on the network just like everyone
else. Wait I have a router to connect them all ... also.
hope this helps,
pxn
 
I used to have "almost" the same set up ... the only thing I have more
is the "printer adapter" that goes from centronics/pararallel to
ethernet. Then the printer would be on the network just like everyone
else. Wait I have a router to connect them all ... also.
hope this helps,
pxn
Click to expand...
You would still need a printer driver on each machine for the printer
 
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