Sharing a printer between Windows XP and 98

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tim Robison
  • Start date Start date
T

Tim Robison

I have an interesting problem.

I am trying to get 4 workstations running Windows 98 to
print to a Windows XP shared printer. The issue isn't
specific to printers, actually it affects any sort of file
or print sharing between the computers, but I only really
care about the printing issue. I have no issues
connecting to this shared printer with other Windows 2000
or XP machines, but 98 is very erratic. Most of the time
I get a "the device doesn't exist on the network" when
trying to connect to just the computer, not the printer.
However, sometimes I can connect, and setup the printer,
and even test it. But after a short time, I will lose the
connection and get the "the device doesn't esist on the
network" error again.

Ok, so that is the issue. And this is why its so
frustrating to troubleshoot. In my office we run a 90
computer hybrid network consisting of Windows XP, 2000,
and 98. Every computer is hooked to a Novell server
network. All machines using Windows 98 use Nprinter
(Win95) to print. All Windows XP and 2000 machines use
the Microsoft Peer to Peer network to print. I
abosulutely despise this setup, but since I am not the
Network Administrator, I really have no say in anything.
I'm just in charge of fixing it when it breaks down.

Any help would be very stress relieving =(
 
-----Original Message-----
I have an interesting problem.

I am trying to get 4 workstations running Windows 98 to
print to a Windows XP shared printer. The issue isn't
specific to printers, actually it affects any sort of file
or print sharing between the computers, but I only really
care about the printing issue. I have no issues
connecting to this shared printer with other Windows 2000
or XP machines, but 98 is very erratic. Most of the time
I get a "the device doesn't exist on the network" when
trying to connect to just the computer, not the printer.
However, sometimes I can connect, and setup the printer,
and even test it. But after a short time, I will lose the
connection and get the "the device doesn't esist on the
network" error again.

Ok, so that is the issue. And this is why its so
frustrating to troubleshoot. In my office we run a 90
computer hybrid network consisting of Windows XP, 2000,
and 98. Every computer is hooked to a Novell server
network. All machines using Windows 98 use Nprinter
(Win95) to print. All Windows XP and 2000 machines use
the Microsoft Peer to Peer network to print. I
abosulutely despise this setup, but since I am not the
Network Administrator, I really have no say in anything.
I'm just in charge of fixing it when it breaks down.

Any help would be very stress relieving =(
.
I just solved a similar problem by naming the printer a
Click to expand...
DOS compatible name (i.e. 8 characters no spaces etc.)
After that the printer "appeared" as a networkable
printer on the 98 machines.
 
I thought of that too. The printer name is
\\TIM\CRC2....so its definitely within the limits of DOS
file names
 
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