I’m stepping back from my usual rants and curse filled writings to actually write something a bit helpful. I know, don’t faint.
I take a lot of calls on how a user can get their laptop to print a page to the printer that is hooked up to their PC in the other room. Unfortunately, windows makes it look harder than it really is. There are several options that I’m sure a much more qualified person can go on about, but I am going to write about the easiest way to get your printed page from point a to point b.
The key to this is to make sure your network (in this case, I am going to assume 1 PC, connected to a wireless router, and 1 Laptop, connecting to the network wirelessly) has file and print sharing on. If this is the case then you may proceed. If not comeback after someone else holds your hand through that process.
On your PC, go to the Printers and faxes panel found under Start > Printers and Faxes. Imagine that.
When you see the icon with your printers name on it, right click on it and then left click on sharing. Select that you want to share this printer with the network, and then click OK.
On your laptop, you must first make sure you are in the same “workgroup” as your pc. Most people have this as MSHOME. Then again, most people don’t secure there network connection and invite hackers in, so who is surprised on that one…
One guy raised his hand in the back.
If you are not sure if your “workgroup” is MSHOME, sit the laptop down, go back to your PC, under the start menu, right click on My Computer and select Properties. Click on the Computer Name tab, and under there you should see Workgroup: (your workgroup name). If you are reading this, I am going to assume it is MSHOME. If you want to change the name to something different, click the CHANGE button. Down at the bottom of the window, you can type in a different name. For the rest of the article, MSHOME will no longer be used, lets call the Workgroup….HORSEANDBUGGY.
If you change the name, you will have to restart the PC. Once it is up and running again, go back to the laptop
Follow the same steps for the laptop, making sure that the Workgroup is HORSEANDBUGGY, or whatever you may have changed the name to. If you had to change it, you will have to restart the laptop also.
….waiting….
Ok, now, on the laptop, under Start>My Network Places you will see an icon for View My Workgroup Computers. Click it.
You will see your PC listed there under whatever name it is known as. If you didn’t change it at install time, it may be a series of number or something like MyPC or something like that. Double Click on the icon.
Next, if you set the printer on the PC to be shared correctly, you will see an icon called Printers and Faxes. This is not the same one for your laptop, this icon will show you the printer that is connected to your PC when you double click on it.
If everything is working properly, you should see the icon for your printer that is connected to the PC. Right click on the icon, then click on Connect. You will get a window saying that the laptop needs to install the drivers for the machine, just click OK. If your laptop has never been set up for another printer, this printer will become your default automatically, and you are good to go.
Print a test page to be sure.
Hope this was helpful.
