can 2 computers share a printer?

Ok, I truly feel like a moron. I tried googling, but everything was so tech-speak that I could only sit here mouth breathing and drooling on the desk. (Got the visual yet?) We have two teenagers and we've been just perfectly fine, in my (mom-as-a-complete-idiot) opinion, with one computer. Well a very good family friend upgraded everything in his 5-computers-for-4-people house. and with the most amazing and remarkable generosity, he gave us his "old" stuff. I am so truly humbled I can not put into words. Here's where you gods of assistance come in:
Now we have a teeny tiny house so we are trying to design a type of "work station" that will be well organized-gotta love Ikea-but will fit in the space and hold 2 computers and all their associated accouterments. We are hoping to somehow connect both computers, that will be side by side, to one printer. Can it be done by one so challenged as me?
You have come through on every occasion for me, so I know you can help me with this. I just hope I can understand your response. Although I don't know why I am bothering you. After all I have TWO teenagers, and they KNOW EVERYTHING!
now, where's that tequila........

 

Good grief! 2 kids and you still drink that stuff! :-D

The short answer is yes, they can share a printer. The easiest way is to use a router and setup a small network.

 

OK, I might start on this one because I am not very "tech-y" and so my answers are often in plain English <g>.

My initial question: What are the two computers, what operating system do they use, and what is the printer? By which I mean the manufacturer and model, for example a HP Photosmart C5280 All-in-One Printer.

My second question: can you bear the thought of setting up a wireless network? Before you say no (I can hear you shaking your head already), I can tell you it isn't that hard. A side benefit is that it will impress the teenagers.

Cheers,

FJM

 

The other way to share a printer (assuming you have a network, aka broadband) is to go into the computer it is connected to, and turn on sharing for the printer on that computer. The other computer should be able to find it then, and print through it.

Go through the control panel, right click on the printer icon, and select sharing.

I've done this in my house. I have about 6 or so computers at any one time, and 1 printer. It helps.

 

We finally got a new work station all set up. we built it ourselves mostly with stuff we had around. And some stuff from Ikea. I can't believe how much junk the old desk was hiding. So now we are ready to hook everything together. I have to first download and install the (new to us) printer driver onto the computer. Only 1 hour and 9 minutes left.........
Meanwhile here are the answers to the questions you asked:

How do you get on to the internet dialup, dsl, cable or satellite? DSL from the phone company
(and our fiend gave us a router too-"Cisco Linksys etherfast cable/dsl with 8-port switch"
What operating systems (version of windows are on the computers? XP Professional (both)

Don't worry, it can be done and we will post easy to follow steps. PROMISE??

and what is the printer? By which I mean the manufacturer and model, HP psc 2410xi photosmart all in one

My second question: can you bear the thought of setting up a wireless network?The thought is intriguing, the budget is TIGHT

Good grief! 2 kids and you still drink that stuff! how do you think I got the 2 kids? (kidding:-D)

 

YOU'RE NO PLODDER! You're just the opposite-Speedy!
the modem is an "efficient network speedstream 5100"
We have somehow manged to magically connect both computers to the internet!!!
I am still downloading the printer info. will I need to download that onto both computers?

 

Hi All,

The printer does not have to "go on the internet" it only has to communicate with the other computers. I'm not sure of the details if the comps are able to go to the internet. I have run parallel and USB printers between 98se machines and XP to 98se.Never needed internet on more than one machine as they are all in the same room. Windoze will set it up for you. Look for help in XP.

Good Luck, Jim

 

WE DID IT!!
I have to admit that the windoze program was also helpful with it's wizard, but mostly it was you guys. So now we have 2 computers next to each other with both on line at the same time!!! And both are printing to the same printer!! What is next? Can they share the external DVD burner? will they learn to do the laundry and vacuum?
*sigh* I am going outside to play......
-kate

 

Yes you should be able to share the external burner but not really to burn files.. well you could but it's quite a mission! You can read files from it on the other computer. To share it.. open my computer and right click on the burner and follow the text below to share the drive. Or create a "sneakernet" or "footnet" e.g. copy the files to a flash disk and take them from one machine to the other LOL

If you want to burn files from one machine on the other e.g. one machine has the burner and the other dosent best way to make it happen is my making a share folder!

Share Folders!
You can use simple file and printer sharing... example make a folder under C:\ (C Drive in My Computer, open it) then right click - New - Folder - name your folder e.g. Share Folder. Right click on your "Share Folder" and select "Sharing & Security..." then click on the Sharing tab - under "Network sharing and security" click on the text "If you understand the security risks but still want to share..." click and next will be "Use the wizard to enable sharing" or "Just enable sharing" you may want to use the wizard and follow through.


Hidden Shares!
If you have an account (same username and password) setup on both computers (assuming default file system is NTFS) you can simply access any of the computers from the other by opening my computer, they type in the address bar type the name of the computer you want to connect to e.g. bobscomputer would be typed in as "\\bobscomputer\c$" without the quotes to access the C drive or D for the second hard drive or CD/DVD drive etc. $ sign after a drive letter or hidden folder name will allow access to the hidden share but.. this is the big but here only if you have a user account on that machine with administrator rights if you don't you'll be denied access!

Laundry and Vacuum!
No to laundry but yes to vacuum.. Well at least this little guy can handle the vacuum! :-D Then he isn't exactly running windows xp.