printing

I have just been told (by someone in PC World, so it must be right) that
my current printing arrangements are impossible. They are:

a simple wired network. Desktop and laptop both wired to a router.
Router connected to adsl. Printer connected to desktop via parallel
port.

No other connections. No wireless (except occasionally, when I enable
it). The printer is quite old and definitely has no networking
facilities.

The laptop prints happily through the network. It sees the printer and
prints. The printer is not connected to the laptop or to the router,
only to the desktop. Apparently this is bewildering, but it works
reliably and has done for months.

I'm a bit concerned, because I'm replacing the desktop and probably the
printer as well and wonder if this simple arrangement can be relied on.
In fact I've added the new computer (new desktop) to the network and it
doesn't see the printer in the way the laptop does.

I wonder if anyone can explain all this (is it odd or perfectly normal?)
and tell me how to make it work with a new printer.
--
Trevor Wright


Trevor Wright

"Trevor Wright" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:l+(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have just been told (by someone in PC World, so it must be right) that my
>current printing arrangements are impossible. They are:
>
> a simple wired network. Desktop and laptop both wired to a router. Router
> connected to adsl. Printer connected to desktop via parallel port.
>
> No other connections. No wireless (except occasionally, when I enable
> it). The printer is quite old and definitely has no networking facilities.
>
> The laptop prints happily through the network. It sees the printer and
> prints. The printer is not connected to the laptop or to the router, only
> to the desktop. Apparently this is bewildering, but it works reliably and
> has done for months.
>
> I'm a bit concerned, because I'm replacing the desktop and probably the
> printer as well and wonder if this simple arrangement can be relied on. In
> fact I've added the new computer (new desktop) to the network and it
> doesn't see the printer in the way the laptop does.
>
> I wonder if anyone can explain all this (is it odd or perfectly normal?)
> and tell me how to make it work with a new printer.


I`ve got a Laserjet 5 on the network, and a Canon Pixma MP750 plugged into
my desktop machine. Every machine on the network can print from the
laserjet (as it is stand alone on the network), and as long as the desktop
is on then any PC connected to the network can print to the Pixma. This is
after i`ve set up file and printer sharing and the like on each machine
involved, but it does work, and works well.

--
Items on ebay:
http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQsassZscousesifinQQhtZ-1

Trevor Wright wrote:

> I have just been told (by someone in PC World, so it must be right) that
> my current printing arrangements are impossible. They are:
>
> a simple wired network. Desktop and laptop both wired to a router.
> Router connected to adsl. Printer connected to desktop via parallel
> port.
>
> No other connections. No wireless (except occasionally, when I enable
> it). The printer is quite old and definitely has no networking
> facilities.
>
> The laptop prints happily through the network. It sees the printer and
> prints. The printer is not connected to the laptop or to the router,
> only to the desktop. Apparently this is bewildering, but it works
> reliably and has done for months.
>
> I'm a bit concerned, because I'm replacing the desktop and probably the
> printer as well and wonder if this simple arrangement can be relied on.
> In fact I've added the new computer (new desktop) to the network and it
> doesn't see the printer in the way the laptop does.
>
> I wonder if anyone can explain all this (is it odd or perfectly normal?)
> and tell me how to make it work with a new printer.

I've got essentially the same thing, with several networked desktop machines
all able to print to an HP Business Inkjet via a parallel port. You just
need to make the printer shared on the machine it's plugged in to, then run
the install new printer wizard on the others.

Buggered if I can make it work from a Linux box though... :-)

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.

In message <l+(E-Mail Removed)>, Trevor Wright
<(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>I have just been told (by someone in PC World, so it must be right)
>that my current printing arrangements are impossible. They are:
Ahh, first problem. Never listen to PC-World staff. Generally, you
should always ask for the advice and then, while the moron is
'explaining', look at everyone in earshot, the person rolling their
eyes, shaking their head and/or laughing out loud is the IT pro who's
had to call in because PC world are the only local place that has the
ink cartridge he needs on the shelf **. After the moron has finished
spouting bovine excrement, follow the IT pro and ask how it really
works.
>
>I'm a bit concerned, because I'm replacing the desktop and probably the
>printer as well and wonder if this simple arrangement can be relied on.
>In fact I've added the new computer (new desktop) to the network and it
>doesn't see the printer in the way the laptop does.
Nope, it's absolutely fine, all you have to do on the new machine once
you've got the network running is load the printer drivers and in
control panel- printers right click on the printer and select sharing
from the drop menu. Tick the box marked 'Share this printer' and give it
a name. Piece of cake. This info is for XP/XP-Pro but I suspect it will
be very similar under Vista. Second thing you really need to do is to
stop taking advice from PC-world.
>
>I wonder if anyone can explain all this (is it odd or perfectly
>normal?) and tell me how to make it work with a new printer.
** Alternatively he may just have visited for a laugh and is enjoying
the stupidity of the PC world staff.
--
Clint Sharp

"Trevor Wright" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:l+(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have just been told (by someone in PC World, so it must be right)

LOL. Such sarcasm!

> that my current printing arrangements are impossible. They are:
>
> a simple wired network. Desktop and laptop both wired to a router. Router
> connected to adsl. Printer connected to desktop via parallel port.
>
> No other connections. No wireless (except occasionally, when I enable
> it). The printer is quite old and definitely has no networking facilities.
>
> The laptop prints happily through the network. It sees the printer and
> prints. The printer is not connected to the laptop or to the router, only
> to the desktop. Apparently this is bewildering, but it works reliably and
> has done for months.
>
> I'm a bit concerned, because I'm replacing the desktop and probably the
> printer as well and wonder if this simple arrangement can be relied on. In
> fact I've added the new computer (new desktop) to the network and it
> doesn't see the printer in the way the laptop does.
>
> I wonder if anyone can explain all this (is it odd or perfectly normal?)
> and tell me how to make it work with a new printer.

Your setup is perfectly sensible and is one of the two standard ways of
providing shared access to a printer from around the network, the other way
being a print server (either an external box or functionality built into the
printer) which allows the printer to connected directly to the LAN without
needing the PC to which it is currently connected to be switched on. But
some printers don't work too well with print servers (and it's often not a
configuration which the printer manufacturer supports if you have problems)
whereas your way is almost guaranteed to work for any printer.

Having shared the printer queue on the "printer PC", all other PCs should be
able to print to it, no matter whether they connect to the router by
Ethernet or wireless. The "printer PC" could also connect to the router via
wireless.

I'm slightly puzzled about how the new desktop PC is going to be used. Is it
going to replace the current "printer PC" and have the printer connected to
it (which you imply by the fact that the PC is currently connected to the
old desktop and that you are replacing the old desktop with the new one) or
is it going to be a remote PC accessing the printer across the network
(which you imply by saying that the new PC doesn't see the printer in the
way the laptop does)?

If you mean the former, and that the laptop doesn't see the new printer as
shared by the new PC, whereas it does see the old printer shared by the old
PC, that's a networking issue: it could be that firewalls are preventing the
two PCs pinging each other or it could be a permission problem with the new
PC rejecting attempts by the laptop to send print jobs to it.

Confirm exactly how the new PC and printer fit into the network, and the
symptoms of things not working, and one of us might be able to help you
further.

In article <l+(E-Mail Removed)>, Trevor Wright
(E-Mail Removed) says...
> I have just been told (by someone in PC World, so it must be right) that
> my current printing arrangements are impossible.

Go back and tell him that you've been told (by someone on usenet, so it
must be right) that he's a clueless fuckwit.

In message <(E-Mail Removed)> , Rob Morley
<(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>In article <l+(E-Mail Removed)>, Trevor Wright
>(E-Mail Removed) says...
>> I have just been told (by someone in PC World, so it must be right) that
>> my current printing arrangements are impossible.
>
>Go back and tell him that you've been told (by someone on usenet, so it
>must be right) that he's a clueless fuckwit.

What was interesting was the way he looked at me. I'm over 40, so could
only be misunderstanding or fantasising.

(Of course, he was trying to sell me a network-ready printer).

--
Trevor Wright

In message <45ca0bf1$0$8732$(E-Mail Removed)>, Martin
Underwood <a@b.?.invalid> writes
>I'm slightly puzzled about how the new desktop PC is going to be used. Is it
>going to replace the current "printer PC" and have the printer connected to
>it (which you imply by the fact that the PC is currently connected to the
>old desktop and that you are replacing the old desktop with the new one)
yes
>Confirm exactly how the new PC and printer fit into the network, and the
>symptoms of things not working, and one of us might be able to help you
>further.
>
>
I have all three connected temporarily. The new PC now sees the printer
on the old PC - I just hadn't added it.

This all comes about because my new Dell PC doesn't have a parallel port
and I'm going to have to ditch my trusted but rather ancient
black-and-white laserjet. The printer cable has an odd connection at
the printer end which I can't replicate on a cable with USB at the other
end. I suppose it's time for colour, anyway, though I guess an inkjet
will be slower.

Many thanks for advice in this thread.
--
Trevor Wright

"Trevor Wright" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:sxjuoeDbstyFFAZ+@trevorwright.demon.co.uk...
Snip
> This all comes about because my new Dell PC doesn't have a parallel port
> and I'm going to have to ditch my trusted but rather ancient
> black-and-white laserjet. The printer cable has an odd connection at the
> printer end which I can't replicate on a cable with USB at the other end.
> I suppose it's time for colour, anyway, though I guess an inkjet will be
> slower.
>
> Many thanks for advice in this thread.
> --
> Trevor Wright

You can get parallel to USB convertors for about £15 that 'should' enable
you to keep your LaserJet.

e.g. http://www.cabling4less.co.uk/USB_Adaptors.php Googled this ref, I've
had no dealings with them.

Peter

In message <3LByh.289439$(E-Mail Removed) >, Peter
Andrews <(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>You can get parallel to USB convertors for about £15 that 'should' enable
>you to keep your LaserJet.

Thankyou, but it's not so. The printer end isn't a standard parallel;
it's a much smaller 36-pin socket, and I can't find one anywhere.
--
Trevor Wright