Printer access from wireless Laptop

[What Next]

Dell Photo AIO Printer 922
In printer and fax's page my default printer is, "Dell Photo AIO Printer 922 on Desktop". Status column says, "Unable to connect". If I right click and choose preferences, warning pop-up says, "Printing preferences cannot be displayed. The print spooler service is not running".
   What can I do to fix this. Thanks

[Geek-9pm]

Did you have it working at one time?
Are both computers running Vista?
Is print and file sharing  on for both computers?
Is the printer shared on the Desktop.

Uninstall the printer on the laptop. Reboot. See if the desktop is in the Network places. See if it shows the printer as available on the network. If so, do the printer install again on the laptop.  You may need to reboot. Next try a test page.

[What Next]

Yes. It was working last week.
Both computers running window XP
File sharing for desktop. Can't tell for laptop. It won't let me look.

How do I check the network places.

[Geek-9pm]

It would seem that the laptop was not setup right for network use. Or the user you have does not have permissions.
Otherwise My Network Places would show when you click on Start.

[What Next]

Network places do not show up when I touch start on ether computer? I find Network connections under start-settings.

In the printer and faxes window, should the default printer name be exactly the same?
desktop:  Dell Photo AIO Printer 922
laptop:     Dell Photo AIO Printer 922 on Desktop

I pulled the USB cable off my desktop and pluged it into the laptop and defaulted to the USB-Dell Photo AIO Printer 922 and it printed.

[Geek-9pm]

desktop:  Dell Photo AIO Printer 922
laptop:     Dell Photo AIO Printer 922 on Desktop

That should be right.
Now the question is why can you not see the network?
If you log in as the administrator you should be able to see the network.

[What Next]

Do you mean Network Connections by way of, start-settings?

[Geek-9pm]

If "My network places "is not on the start menu you have to enable it by customizing the start menu.

[What Next]

OK. I found it. It wasn't on the start menu. It had its own button. On the laptop there is nothing in My Network Places. I haven't remove the printer yet off the laptop.

[Geek-9pm]

Well, the only thing I can think of is to run the network Wizard again and be sure to turn on file and print sharing. After the network is up and running you can install a network printer. You have to be able to see the desktop computer in the workgroup and it should show its printer as available as a network printer.

[What Next]

I check and I have a wireless net work and I pinged google from the wireless laptop.

[dahlarbear]

If the "wizard" doesn't do it for you, the following Microsoft downloads (word docs) should reveal his "secrets".  Although a bit dated, they are still excellent references.

    Troubleshooting File and Printer Sharing in Microsoft Windows XP
    File and Printer Sharing with Microsoft Windows

[patio]

If the ping worked the network is setup a good connection properly however something is wonked with file and print sharing on one or both of the machines...
Is it setup as the Default printer on both machines ? ?

[truenorth]

Is it not also necessary at printer sharing setup on a network to designate which one is "master" and which is "slave"? Was that done? truenorth

[Computer_Commando]

Please clarify:
1.  You have a wireless router?
2.  Desktop computer is hard-wired to router?
3.  Printer is not wireless?
4.  Printer is connected to desktop computer via USB?

[What Next]

Geek-9pm,
The calvery has arrived.

dahlarbear,
Will hold off on your site for a moment.

patio,
Yes, it is set for the default printer. In reply four it shows that there is a slight difference in there names. Does that matter?

truenorth,
I understand the terms "master and slave" But are those computer lingo? I am going to say no, to your question.

Computer Commando,
Yes to all of your questions.

Update:
I have Live One Care as a virus protector. I went in and turned off the firewall and virus protector and the printer went from "not able to connect" to "ready" and I was able to print a word document. It did ask me to put it in the Live one care allow programs but it didn't save it and the printer icon in the bottom right of screen still has a red X on it and when I restarted I had to do it all over again.

[dahlarbear]

Update:
I have Live One Care as a virus protector. I went in and turned off the firewall and virus protector and the printer went from "not able to connect" to "ready" and I was able to print a word document. It did ask me to put it in the Live one care allow programs but it didn't save it and the printer icon in the bottom right of screen still has a red X on it and when I restarted I had to do it all over again.

Were the "quoted" activities above on the "laptop" computer?

A firewall can block the ports used by "file and printer sharing".  I'm assuming you're using firewall thru Live One Care, but their documentation doesn't seem to directly address the issue.  Maybe if you "Change the zone for your network" (Home, Work, Public Place) to "Home" within that program.

Other weirdness with Live OneCare is a webpage dedicated to:  Printers currently not supported by Windows Live OneCare.

See the Microsoft forums Windows Live OneCare Printer Sharing and Windows Live OneCare Firewall.

Editorial Comment:  I'm not personally familiar with the Live OneCare product, but when I start seeing references to either setup printer sharing within the product or outside of the product (but not both?); I pretty much want to "throw up".  Who needs that level of complexity in their software (or life).  Good luck with this discontinued product.

[patio]

MS is abandoning Live One Care .....anyone who has it should do the same...

[Geek-9pm]

MS is abandoning Live One Care
 .....anyone who has it should do the same...

That is very informative.
Patio deserves a thank from any  who benefit from this. 

[Computer_Commando]

MS is abandoning Live One Care .....anyone who has it should do the same...

http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-us/activation/oc_eol_guidance.htm

[Geek-9pm]

[What Next]

dahlarbear,

Yes, on the laptop.
The zone for my laptop is Home.
I will go back and read the documents you sent me earlyer to see if I spot something obvious.

And thanks everyone for the info on Live one Care.  Who is the most reliable to go to?

Right now. My desktop printer I-con has a yellow triangle on it and my laptop has a red X throught it. But they both work. I have to turn off Live one care fire wall and virus protextion before the laptop will connecte to the printer.

[soybean]

Is it not also necessary at printer sharing setup on a network to designate which one is "master" and which is "slave"? Was that done? truenorth

The master and slave designations apply to hard drives in systems with multiple hard drives, but it has nothing to do with printers. 

[truenorth]

soybean, Actually the terms were meant to imply a need to specifically designate one printer as "master" = home and the other as "slave"= whatever the other word in printer parlance is other than "Home" to designate the "other" printer. Don't get hung up on the "master/slave " terms. I don't do network setups of printers that often to stay familiar with the precise terms. I actually prefer a "nexxtech" hardware switch for the purpose of printer sharing. Not that one is any better necessarily than the other. But as far as i know absolutely for a single printer to function on a network a separate designation is needed for it to work. Apart from what else may be at play in the case of the O/P here.truenorth

[Geek-9pm]

truenorth,
A new and piratical option is to have a new printer with built in wireless.
This CNET  review is a year old. Prices are even better now.
http://reviews.cnet.com/4321-5_7-6615809.html

BTW,  both computes have to have file and print serving on to share a printer.

[dahlarbear]

I am not a "dealer" (pusher) or "user" of the Windows Live OneCare product (so I have no real world experience with it).

From my limited research, it appears you either setup printer sharing within Windows XP (the normal way) or within Windows Live OneCare; one or the other but not both.  Wherever you enable printer sharing, you need to ensure the firewalls permit traffic flow through the ports used by Microsoft File and Printer Sharing.

If you decide to uninstall Live OneCare and rejoin the rest of the world, you should focus your attention on the Microsoft docs:
    Troubleshooting File and Printer Sharing in Microsoft Windows XP
    File and Printer Sharing with Microsoft Windows

If you wish to continue with Windows Live OneCare, you should focus your attention on the Microsoft forums:  Windows Live OneCare Printer Sharing and Windows Live OneCare Firewall.  The solution might be as simple as enabling "File and Printer Sharing" in the Live OneCare firewall (see Stephen Boots post at Printer sharing stopped working).

Their Help for Windows Live OneCare documentation might also be helpful.  Use the "Table of contents" link at the bottom of the page on the left-hand side.

(Whatever you do...  Don't drink the Kool-Aid!)

[soybean]

soybean, Actually the terms were meant to imply a need to specifically designate one printer as "master" = home and the other as "slave"= whatever the other word in printer parlance is other than "Home" to designate the "other" printer. Don't get hung up on the "master/slave " terms.

I think key word here is "default", not "master".  To use the "master/slave" terms where they do not apply can lead to confusion.  They simply don't apply to printers. 

A new and piraticalpractical option is to have a new printer with built in wireless.
This CNET review is a year old. Prices are even better now.
http://reviews.cnet.com/4321-5_7-6615809.html

Also, many newer AIO are networkable by connecting to a router.  That's what I have now.  By Brother MFC-790CW is connected to my router via ethernet cable.  This gives me access to the printer from my desktop which is connected to the router via ethernet cable and from my laptop which uses a wireless connection to my router. The beauty of this is that neither computer must be on for the other one to print.

Aternatively, I could use the printer in an entirely wireless mode, with it connecting wirelessly to my router, or wirelessly direct to my laptop. 

[truenorth]

Geek-9PM,I imagine the devices your link goes to will become the preferred route in the future (once the price gets lower yet). What i am using is the 3rd from the top at this link http://www.usbgear.com/USB-Sharing.html . I have been using it for some time now and really like it. While i am using it for printer sharing i suppose it could be used for other shared devices as well with the appropriate cable connections. thanks for the information,truenorth

[truenorth]

soybean,  "To use the "master/slave" terms where they do not apply can lead to confusion.  They simply don't apply to printers. " Point well taken,truenorth

[What Next]

dahlarbear, your getting close.

I turned off my live one care firewall on both of my computers and I can see my computers in my network places on both computers. Geek-9am, this is an answer to your earlier question.

truenorth, my desktop computer is the "master" (computer hard wired to the router) and my laptop "slave" feeds through the router by, I think the term is, WI-FI?

[soybean]

truenorth, my desktop computer is the "master" (computer hard wired to the router) and my laptop "slave" feeds through the router by, I think the term is, WI-FI?

Again, the terms master and slave have no relevance here.  Just because your desktop is connected to the router by cable does not make it "master" nor does your laptop become "slave" by virtue of a wireless connection to the router. 

Furthermore, you're referring to truenorth's comment but you aren't even using the terms master and slave in the same sense as him.  He was referring to printers but you're talking about the computers themselves, not the printers. 

"master" and "slave" usually refers to the common scenario of two drives (hard or optical) connected to the same data cable which connects the drives to the motherboard.  The terms simply are not generally used terminology in connection with printers or cable vs. wireless connection to a router.  The terms have meaning with reference to drives; they have no meaning here. 

[Computer_Commando]

...my desktop computer is the "master" (computer hard wired to the router) and my laptop "slave" feeds through the router by, I think the term is, WI-FI?

There is no "master" and "slave" in this configuration.  Both are connected to the router and it makes no difference if one is wired and the other is wireless (Wi-Fi).

In your configuration, in order to print from the notebook computer to the USB printer which is connect to the desktop computer, the desktop computer must be on.  You could convert the USB printer to ethernet and then connect it to the router, so the desktop computer doesn't have to be on.

If you really must have another firewall besides the one built-in to WinXP, they plenty of free ones.

[soybean]

You could convert the USB printer to ethernet and then connect it to the router, so the desktop computer doesn't have to be on.

I don't believe his printer has an ethernet connector. Or, am I missing your point?

[truenorth]

What Next, If your eyes do not glaze over here is a link that seems to cover "everything" related to printer sharing and how to accomplish it in most windows operating systems.You will note a need to "identify" each computer (the point i was trying to make and used the improper terms for) to enable them to be recognized and communicate with the printer.Hope this helps.truenorth

[Computer_Commando]

I don't believe his printer has an ethernet connector. Or, am I missing your point?

I'm sure it doesn't.  Convert the printer to wireless with wireless print server.

[soybean]

I'm sure it doesn't.  Convert the printer to wireless with wireless print server.

Yeah, but he could probably get a new wireless-capable printer for the cost of the wireless print server.  That might be a better option, since the Dell Photo AIO Printer 922 is getting some age on it.

[Computer_Commando]

I agree.

[What Next]

OK.

Ha. truenorth, your right. My eyes are glazed over. I think I thanked everyone. Hope I did.

I can print right now from my computers be it that my laptop still has a red X on it. Live One Care is going out of business and my printer is old, it's low on ink and I should get a new wireless printer. I feel like Lou Costello talking to Bud Abbott about "who's on first". Ha. But it's been fun. I appreciate you guy's guiding me through the unknown.

It has left me with one last question. Do I need to by virus protection with firewall or do I buy virus protection and use my Winxp fire wall?

[Computer_Commando]

...It has left me with one last question. Do I need to by virus protection with firewall or do I buy virus protection and use my Winxp fire wall?

Why buy, when there are good free ones?

Anti-Virus
Avast and AVG both have freeware.

Firewalls
Many are freeware, or just use the WinXP firewall. 

[truenorth]

What Next, Fantastic that you have made progress and can now use your printer as shared. On the "free" anti virus. I have used both the suggestions of Comp_Comm and offer a comment and another alternative. Comment: I find AVG has gotten too bloated. Alternative (free) is "Avira" which i use on a couple of my computers and find it to be very efficient compared to the 2 others. For your information and guidance. On the central concept i do agree that you don't need to "buy". In fact the 2 most popular commercial ones "Norton" and "McAfee " are know to have a lot of downside potential for computer issues. truenorth