Using an XP printer on Vista

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steve Freides
  • Start date Start date
S

Steve Freides

We have a well-working XP network at home, all XP/Pro.

My son now has a Vista laptop, and we can find our two printers, both
connected to my workstation, but when it comes time to actually install
drivers, etc., the installation fails and says it can't communicate with
the printers.

Suggestions appreciated. The XP machines run AVG 9 free, Spybot, and
Spyware Blaster. The Vista machine runs AVG 9.

Thanks in advance.

-S-
 
We have a well-working XP network at home, all XP/Pro.

My son now has a Vista laptop, and we can find our two printers, both
connected to my workstation, but when it comes time to actually install
drivers, etc., the installation fails and says it can't communicate with
the printers.

Suggestions appreciated. The XP machines run AVG 9 free, Spybot, and
Spyware Blaster. The Vista machine runs AVG 9.

Thanks in advance.

-S-
Click to expand...

Update drivers to d/l ?
 
We have a well-working XP network at home, all XP/Pro.

My son now has a Vista laptop, and we can find our two printers, both
connected to my workstation, but when it comes time to actually install
drivers, etc., the installation fails and says it can't communicate with
the printers.

Suggestions appreciated. The XP machines run AVG 9 free, Spybot, and
Spyware Blaster. The Vista machine runs AVG 9.

Thanks in advance.

-S-
Click to expand...

For each printer, go to the printer manufacturer's web site and download
the latest Vista drivers for that printer.

Install each on the Vista machine, following the instructions for
however that machine is connected to the printer.

Sometimes you might have to connect the printer directly to the new
machine to install the drivers. My older Canon printer is connected to
the wired network, but I had to connect to the computer by USB to
install the drivers.
 
From: "Steve Freides" <[email protected]>

| We have a well-working XP network at home, all XP/Pro.

| My son now has a Vista laptop, and we can find our two printers, both
| connected to my workstation, but when it comes time to actually install
| drivers, etc., the installation fails and says it can't communicate with
| the printers.

| Suggestions appreciated. The XP machines run AVG 9 free, Spybot, and
| Spyware Blaster. The Vista machine runs AVG 9.

| Thanks in advance.

| -S-


As an alternative to what was already replied...

You may think about netork Print Servers such as the HP JetDirect series. Then the
printers are connected to the HP JetDirects directly connected to the local area network.
Then both the WinXP and Vista computers (or others) would print to the printers directly
to the IP address of the repective Print Servers.

Advantages:
- No worries about user "priveledges"
- A computer does not have to be up and running to share the printer, only the Print
Server.

Disadvantages:
- Physically connecting the Print Servers to the Ethernet network or via WiFi (there are
WiFi print servers).
- Cost of the added equipment (there are other brands than HP for Print Servers that may
be less expensive but HP is the best).
 
Steve Freides said:
We have a well-working XP network at home, all XP/Pro.

My son now has a Vista laptop, and we can find our two printers, both
connected to my workstation, but when it comes time to actually install
drivers, etc., the installation fails and says it can't communicate with
the printers.

Suggestions appreciated. The XP machines run AVG 9 free, Spybot, and
Spyware Blaster. The Vista machine runs AVG 9.

Thanks in advance.

-S-
Click to expand...
This issue was occuring a while ago here's someones solotion;


I had the same problem. I found a solution. Logically it makes no
sense to me, but it worked so...

Go to Control Panel. Choose printer. Then choose Add Printer.

ChooseAdd a local printer. Click on Create a new port. The default in
the drop down box is Local Port. Do not change that. Click Next.

A dialogue box will appear asking for you to enter a port name. Type
in the \\computer name\printer name ie. My computer's name is basement and
the printer name is EpsonSty so I typed in \\basement\epsonsty

Yahoo! It worked. Go figure! I guess Microsoft thinks printers on a
intranet are local.

Hope this helps someone else so they don't spend the hours I did on
it!
 
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