Network Printer Problem

TomMonger · Post by **TomMonger** » Wed Aug 14, 2002 1:25 pm

Hello,

I have 3 home computers set up on my own little network using a Broadguard router, all connected to a cable modem. Everything works beautifully-- I can share files beween all computers and internet connectivity is flawless.

My problem is trying to get my Lexmark Z23 USB printer to work on my network. I am using Win 98 on all 3 computers. The printer is connected to my one computer and works fine from that particular computer. I have it set up to share. I also have the drivers installed on my other 2 computers.

Even though the other 2 computers see and recognize the printer on that one "host" computer, it won't print anything when I send a job to it. I get a "not connected" message.

Can anyone help me?

Thanks,
-Tom in Scranton, PA

Partial · Post by **Partial** » Wed Aug 14, 2002 5:48 pm

Has the problem just started or has it just not worked?

I haven't been successful sharing printers in Windows 98. I didn't have any luck with it although it seems pretty straightforward. I ended getting a network printer that's plugged directly into the LAN. There are a few print spoolers out there that you can plug a usb or parallel printer into and it plugs into a LAN. Its an option to keep in mind.

Im sure some of these other guys have some good input on the Win98 setup.

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Wed Aug 14, 2002 7:05 pm

I had a similar problem with my Lexmark. I fixed it by installing the drivers on each computer as if the printer were hooked up to LPT1: on each of the other two computers (those without the printer actually hooked up to them). Then I remapped the port to the shared printer.

Works fine after that.

objohn · Post by **objohn** » Thu Aug 15, 2002 5:51 pm

try installed the printer locally on each pc and then redirecting the lpt port using....

net use lpt1: \\servername\printername

OJ

Norm · Post by **Norm** » Thu Aug 15, 2002 7:57 pm

Not sure if this works for all printers but on all the ones I've setup on my network it goes flawlessly.

Start>Settings>Printers....Add Printer>Networked Printer Radio Button....Browse Button to the printer you have shared on the other PC. (It must already be shared on the other PC)
The wizard does the rest.

Since I only use the one printer, I set it as default, and have never had a problem with 3 or 4 different printers (non USB though) On Win98

bixus · Post by **bixus** » Fri Aug 16, 2002 12:50 am

I did this last night and tis might work for you.

I installed the drivers on my 98 machine and had the printer shared on my other machine. With my 98 machine I did this:

Control Panel > Right click on the printer > Properties > Then on my printer it gave me the option to print to the following port which I specified the computer name and name of printer. For example, the computer that the printer was hooked up to was named "PrintServ" and the printer was shared as "ThePrint" then it would be:

\\PrintServ\ThePrint

Hopefully yours is similar to mine nd you can get it working.

TomMonger · Post by **TomMonger** » Sun Aug 18, 2002 9:04 am

Well, I've tried every suggestion, and I still can't get my Lexmark to print from either of my 2 remote computers. I called Lexmark, and after being placed on hold for 45 minutes (toll call, by the way), the tech said, "We don't support networking in Windows". I said, "Whaa?? It says in my Lexmark instructions that I *can* and it even describes *how* on your website!" Then I hung up on the idiot.

I guess I'm stuck carrying the printer all over the house when I need to print from different computers.

I appreciate all the suggestions, by the way.

Thanks,
-Tom in Scranton, PA

Sid · Post by **Sid** » Sun Aug 18, 2002 12:50 pm

I had the same issue when my network was setup like yours. The first thing you need to do is go into network properties and open up client for microsoft networks. Make sure that printer sharing is enabled there. The next thing was to remove the printer from the client systems and run the wizard to install. You 98 guys need to help me out a bit here cause I haven't used 98 in years. When the wizard comes up select network printer then find the printer in the network. The trick to getting it to work was to use the drives that were on the host system. When it asks for the drivers point to the inf file on the cd, then if I remember I had to take the cd out and locate the rest of the files on the host system. I believe its because it usb and the drives won't initialize because the printer is not on those systems.

I have to go and actually set one up later today so I let you know exactly how to do later on.

TomMonger · Post by **TomMonger** » Tue Aug 20, 2002 6:05 am

I decided to install NetBEUI on all machines. I then sent a test print from my laptop to the host computer with the printer. It appeared to "go".

Went upstairs to my host computer only to find the "blue screen of death"... an exception message about DISKTSD.vxd and VOLTRACK.vxd. I hit enter to clear the screen and the print came out.

Unfortunately, this happens to the host computer no matter which computers I send print jobs from. I can't find a whole lot about DISKTSD and VOLTRACK, but it appears to be a hardware issue (perhaps USB?).

I give up. I'm just gonna have to drag the printer to each computer.

-T.

flyerI · Post by **flyerI** » Wed Aug 21, 2002 5:01 pm

I had the same problem with a Xerox 4 in 1 (made by lexmark). I have done this many times with HP Deskjets and Laser Jets so it was not a new undertaking. It does not work with the Lexmark made printers. Xerox and Lexmark told me on the phone it will not work. I even notice on a Lexmark printer box that it said something to the effect that it was not network capable. Go figure. You might be able to use a network print server. I have not tried that but I wasn't faced with the challange of carrying printers around the house.

Norm · Post by **Norm** » Wed Aug 21, 2002 5:25 pm

Just a thought, another possible solution for you.

If you can't get it working there is always the option of using Remote Control software (VNC Netmeeting, or Remote Administrator etc) to control the printing PC from your own PC.

You could copy the file to be printed to the other machine, then remotely control that PC to print locally.

slacker361 · Post by **slacker361** » Thu Aug 22, 2002 7:00 pm

this doesnt sound right to me, you can see the printer on the host machine, from a remote pc, and you have installed it as a network printer Right.........and on the host machine you have file and print sharing set up????

sorry for the stupid questions......I too have this set up with a wireless router and bith mine and my wifes machine run 98se and it works fine, let me know about the above

TomMonger · Post by **TomMonger** » Fri Aug 23, 2002 7:25 am

Flyer,

A print server isn't an option. The printer is USB and servers for USB printers are a small fortune.

-T.

TomMonger · Post by **TomMonger** » Fri Aug 23, 2002 7:27 am

I suppose I could give the remote thing a shot! I think my big problem is that my host computer doesn't like the Lexmark driver. My other option (which WORKS) is to install the printer on a different machine. I tried it with the printer on my 2nd desktop, and all the computers can print to it. Go figure!!

-T.

TomMonger · Post by **TomMonger** » Fri Aug 23, 2002 7:32 am

Yes, Slacker, I can see the printer on the host machine from any computer. I think my problem is that the host machine (an old Dell Optiplex GXA Pentium 266) doesn't like the USB driver that comes with the Lexmark. The printer works great as a standalone on that machine, but any print jobs sent from a remote computer causes blue screen errors.

So... I installed the printer on my other Dell (an Optiplex GL) and all is well -- all computers can print to it. I'll keep it there for now.

-T.

slacker361 · Post by **slacker361** » Fri Aug 23, 2002 5:25 pm

well glad you got it working, just a thought though , can you use the parrellel port for this printer??

TomMonger · Post by **TomMonger** » Sat Aug 24, 2002 11:46 am

This particular printer is USB only.

-T.

slacker361 · Post by **slacker361** » Sat Aug 24, 2002 12:21 pm

OIC well its working and that is all that counts

SG Broadband Community

Network Printer Problem

Network Printer Problem

No luck :(

OK, Got it to work... sort of...

Flyer

Norm

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