Is this possible? Printer on a network question

Ok, sorry new to networking and having some problems setting this up...

Wireless network

Windows XP/SP2 desktop machine with two printers on hardwired-USB. The
desktop machine is connected to router via wireless (or cable)

Laptop on wireless network



I want to be able to send documents from laptop to desktop to be printed on
either printer? Or, do I have to send them to the desktop machine and then
print them as I would any document? Presumably the desktop machine does all
the work with the printer drivers and therefore has to be on?

"Brownie" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed):

> Ok, sorry new to networking and having some problems setting
> this up...
>
> Wireless network
>
> Windows XP/SP2 desktop machine with two printers on
> hardwired-USB. The desktop machine is connected to router via
> wireless (or cable)
>
> Laptop on wireless network
>
>
>
> I want to be able to send documents from laptop to desktop to be
> printed on either printer? Or, do I have to send them to the
> desktop machine and then print them as I would any document?
> Presumably the desktop machine does all the work with the
> printer drivers and therefore has to be on?
>
You should be able to share the printers over the network so that
the laptop can print directly, provided the desktop PC is switched
on. To do that you need to set up the sharing at the desktop PC
then setup accessing the shared printers at the laptop PC. Windows
help covers both.

If you want to avoid the desktop PC depenedency, you can get
dedicated print servers at reasonable prices e.g. I use a Belkin
wireless print server that can handle two USB printers.

> I want to be able to send documents from laptop to desktop to be printed
> on either printer? Or, do I have to send them to the desktop machine and
> then print them as I would any document? Presumably the desktop machine
> does all the work with the printer drivers and therefore has to be on?

Better idea as the other post says is to invest in a print server, you can
get normal printer port ones and USB ones now.

Dave

--
For what we are about to balls up may common sense prevent us doing it
again
in the future!!

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, "Brownie" mailbox100
@btinternet.com says...
> Ok, sorry new to networking and having some problems setting this up...
>
> Wireless network
>
> Windows XP/SP2 desktop machine with two printers on hardwired-USB. The
> desktop machine is connected to router via wireless (or cable)
>
> Laptop on wireless network
>
>
>
> I want to be able to send documents from laptop to desktop to be printed on
> either printer? Or, do I have to send them to the desktop machine and then
> print them as I would any document? Presumably the desktop machine does all
> the work with the printer drivers and therefore has to be on?

From memory - just enable file and printer sharing on the desktop
machine and select "Sharing" on the printer properties.

Or use a dedicated wireless USB print server like this:

http://tinyurl.com/4hk8a

http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop...ProductID=1131
&CategoryID=143&ShopGroupID=19