Accessing a printer on wireless home network with Win98 PC

[J Guy]

Network is wireless, one XP Desktop, one XP Laptop, one Win98 Desktop.  The XP PC's see the printer and work OK.  The Win98 PC doesn't see the printer.  Tried the Add Printer Wizard, no luck.  What is the printer's UNC?  Do I need it?  How do I get it?  Thanks

[dahlarbear]

1.  Printer.  What is the manufacturer and model number?

2.  Connection.  How is the printer connected to the network?
Direct connection to the network (ethernet, wireless) with print server module, or connected to one of the computers (Serial, Parallel, USB, infrared, wireless)?  And if connected directly to a computer, which computer (operating system)?

3.  Drivers.  Unlike Windows XP, Windows 98 does not automatically load (upon demand) the appropriate driver for the printer.  That may be the source of your problem (depending upon where the printer is connected to the network).  My mind is a little fuzzy on this point, I'll have to review my Windows XP Admin study materials.

4.  Access.  From the Windows 98 computer there are several ways to connect to a shared printer, including the following:
    o  From the Add Printer Wizard
    o  Using Start-Run to open a window containing the shared printer
    o  Using Network Neighborhood (for Windows 98) or My Network Places (Windows Me) to open a window containing the shared printer

These methods are covered starting on page 45 of the first reference link below (in the Windows 98 section).

5.  Reference Material:
    File and Printer Sharing with Microsoft Windows
    Troubleshooting File and Printer Sharing in Microsoft Windows XP
    Computer Browsing for SOHO Networks with Microsoft Windows
    Troubleshooting Computer Browsing on SOHO Networks with Microsoft Windows

[billjenkins]

Network is wireless, one XP Desktop, one XP Laptop, one Win98 Desktop.  The XP PC's see the printer and work OK.  The Win98 PC doesn't see the printer.  Tried the Add Printer Wizard, no luck.  What is the printer's UNC?  Do I need it?  How do I get it?  Thanks

UNC means Universal Naming Convention.
The UNC format for identifying printer resources involves two backslashes followed by the server name, another backslah, and then the printer name, eg. \\ComputerHope\Rome, where ComputerHope is the name of the server and Rome is the name of the printer.
For us to assist you further on your issue, do answer dahlarbear's questions 1st, thanks!

Bill
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http://www.TipsInfinity.com/technology/
FREE Computer Tips To Better Your Life

[J Guy]

I appreciate this forum, thanks for your responses.  I discovered the issue was part of each answer given here.  I first had to load the printer driver on the Win98 PC, although the printer is USB connected to my desktop XP PC, I may not need to do this.  To access this printer on the Win98 PC I had to type two forward slashes, then my network name, then another forward slash and then the printer name on my network.  Eureka!  there it is!  Thanks again.