Cannot Print to XP Printer from Vista but I can share files

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Guest

I am at my wits end!!
I cannot print from my 4 day old Laptop loaded with Vista Home Premium to
the printer attached to my XP SP2 Machine. I could print from my previous XP
SP2 laptop without problems. On both machines, all firewalls are off, all
virus programs are off, all printers are shared, all files are shared, both
computers are in the same workgroup, network discovery on, KB922120 is
installed on the XP machine, TCP/IPv4 WINS NetBios is enabled over TCP/IP,
network is private etc.......
What is interesting is that I successfully mapped drives on both PC's and
can fully share files in both directions between both computers. So for now
I am printing Vista files that I can see from my XP.
BUT, I can not browse (in explorer) the XP Computer network from the Vista
machine (Permission error, contact administrator - Myself?)
I have also tried to enter \\computername\printername\ which gives me (Error
0x0000000D) It looks like I am not alone in the issues in printing from
Vista to XP but I haven't seen anyone who has had my problem while being able
to actaully see files. Anyone out there know the fix before I return this PC
to BestBuy and get the one with XP media Centre Edition for $100 less?
 
Rob:

No one has responded but it appears that unless you have a brand new printer
that is Vista certified, you cannot network print to a printer on a XP Home
or XP Pro network.

THIS SUCKS! MS$ should be ashamed of putting out Vista and not allowing it
to network print to a XP networked printer.
 
Thanks Lee,
That's kinda what I was thinking, which is brutal.
Are you 100% sure of that? If that is the case, I at the very least feel
better knowing that I am not the idiot who can't figure it out. I will
assume that MS will EVENTUALLY put out a patch. This isn't acceptable, the
OS should be backwards compatible. If you surf the MS site for solutions,
most of what you find is "upgrade XP to Vista", planned obsolesence.....
We should place bets on how long it will take MS to fix it...
 
One more thing, that reminds me of all the problems that I encountered when I
upgraded my OS to XP and nothing worked!! I guess the plan at MS is put the
product to the market and let the consumers be the BETA testers.
 
I have the same problem. Vista on the laptop connecting to the wireless
network printer attached to an XP desktop. I spent a good hour with Canon
tech support. Unfortunately, he was not able to help. At least I can see my
other networked XP computers on my Vista laptop so I can always move files
that need to be printed 'till MS comes up with a fix. If I had known about
this issue, I would not have upgraded.
 
My bet is there are going to be a LOT of pissed of people that have spent the
money to upgrade...thinking that they could use just one new vista computer
on a home network. I wonder if we could get our money back and send this
crap back to Microsoft? I really think it sucks that it is not backwards
compatible....just with printers! A Windows 98 networked printer could be
printed to from a Windows XP computer! And this is suppose to be an
improvement!
 
I has to switch of passwords on the network on the Vista machine to get the
Xp machine to be seen by the vista machine

MMM "Vista shiny"
 
my spelling brain must off

switch off password protected sharing in the Network and Sharing Center page
 
I tried it both ways and it made no difference.
I like the new sound effect when I get the critical error....not!
 
This is not correct. Many existing and older printers work fine - for
example, out of the box, my Vista computers at home can print on the HP
Deskjet 932C (at least 5 years old) connected to a Windows Server 2003
computer. Same at the office with many different HP Laserjet printers
(other vendors "older" printers work also). Windows XP or Windows Server
2003 printer drivers for printers that do not have in-box drivers will also
work in most cases.

These kinds of problems are usually very printer make and model dependent,
so without knowing what make and model of printer one is having a problem
with, it is not practical to suggest solutions.

There are definitly issues with the scanner and fax capabilities of some
multi-function "printers", but basic printing works in most cases.

However, if all else fails, the workaround at
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/NetPrinterNoPP.htm will almost always work -
the details in the steps are for XP, but the process is essentially the same
in Vista.

There are several threads in the
microsoft.public.windows.vista.networking-sharing and
microsoft.public.windows.vista.general newsgroups about problems with
sharing folders and printers and potential solutions.
 
OK

I'm not knowledgeable about networking printing and its problems but
there is a lot posted here about them.

AMOI What happens if you plug the printr directly into the laptop --
can you print then?

Personally, especially on a laptop where so many special drivers and
utilities are used, I would not move to VISTA for as long as possible
so if you can get the equivalent machine with XP I'd go for it.
 
Check this out!!!
I plugged the printer in question (Brother MFC-3420) directly into the Vista
Machine and the device and drivers installed instantly and automatically. I
could immediately print to it directly. So it is not a Printer driver issue.
I then shared the printer (from the Vista machine) back to the XP machine
and immediately could see and it and print to it from the XP machine. I put
everything back the way it was originally and nothing improved. I also tried
Bruce Sanderson's workaround with the "adding a port" per the Shaw
website...nada. I guess it is a networking permission bug. I would hate to
have to do this everytime I need to print from the laptop. I am considering
buying several bluetooth USB's and creating a network between all of my
devices. Ebay for $5.99 each. Thoughts?

Rob
 
Rob said:
 I guess it is a networking permission bug.
Click to expand...

As I said Networking is where I say "Please help me ..... " <g>

Someone here ought to be able to help sort it out or escalate it up to
Redmond -- Jill seems to do that?

I think I saw a message saying they had solved it by making sure both
ends used the same password? And I believe MS changed the default
Workgroup name in VISTA -- anything wrong there? Can you do other
things over the network?
 
I'm curious about your problem and have some questions:

1. is the XP computer XP Home or XP Professional?
2. on the XP computer, do you have a user account that has a password
defined? If not, add one on the XP computer and add the same user account
with the same password on the Vista computer. Logon on the Vista computer
with this new account - does this make any difference to the printer issue
or to the "can not browse (in Explorer) the XP Computer network...)?
3. please try the "adding a port" workaround again from the Vista computer
preferably while logged on using the account created per my question 2 -
please describe exactly when you get the problem and what exactly the
symptom is. To add the Port, you may have to start the Add Printer process
by:

a. open the Printers window (e.g. Start, Printers)
b. click File, Run as Administrator, Add Printer

or

a. open the Printers window
b. click File, Run as Administrator, Server Properties
c. select the Ports tab
d. click Add Port...


--
Bruce Sanderson MVP Printing
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.
 
Hi Bruce,

Thanks for following through on this with me. I finally got her to go!!!
1. Printer Server is XP Home 5.1, SP2, the laptop is Vista Home Premium
2. There were no passwords on either machine so I added them (The user
accounts have both always been Rob) It made no difference, as I could still
not "browse" the XP network via Windows Explorer from Vista (I can browse
Vista from Vista in Windows Explorer fine... I guess I'll discuss this in
another forum) I can see the computer, but when I click on the Network Icon
the Vista machine appears immediately and a status bar across the top runs
for about 5 seconds, then the XP Machine appears. When I click on the XP
machine to expand it the error message "\\XP Machine is not accessible. You
might not have permission to use this network resource. Contact the
administrator of the server to find out if you have permissions"
3. I added the port on the Vista Machine (although I couldn't see the "Run
as administrator" option). I had previously added the port on the XP Machine
(at least that was what the Shaw workaround said), which made no difference.
From the Vista machine, I used "add a printer", "add a local printer" (not
network printer), "create new port", "local port", entered the
COMPUTERNAME\PRINTERNAME the same as in the port that I had added on the XP
machine and it worked!

Thanks a bunch
P.S. It should have worked from the add a network printer function.
 
I have the same problem. XP main computer with modern HP printer. Vista
laptop, but although internet can be accessed, I am unable to access the
network. Therefore no file sharing and no printing. Any additional help
please?
 
Read bruce's threads. There is a lot that needs to be done. You add the
printer to your VISTA machine as a LOCAL printer, not as a network printer.
you must first create the port manually on your XP machine and then enter it
manually on your VISTA. You can not browse for it through networking. Make
sure your VISTA network is private, not public, without any passwords
required for the network, download all patches for XP from MS Website. make
sure file and printer sharing is on for both machines. turn off firewalls
(at least temporarily), you can also map a network drive from windows
explorer on both machines.
I think that is it. I am finally fully functional after a week of screwing
around....
 
If you plug the printr USB cable directly into the vista PC , it cant print
also.My printer is Dell all-in-one 924.
I can share files n internet connection.
 
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