my guide to internet printer sharing over lan and wlan workgroups

ok so i had alot of problems with this. even asked for help but no one but a few seemed to be able to help. and even my ccna and wirless teacher had some problems so i thought i would write a quiwk how to. im new at this so give me a little lee way.

1. set up workgroup, regardless of microsoft os this is the first step.
make sure your workgroup name is correct (remember it is case sensitive)

2. enable printer and file sharing on both computers. in xp the wiziard is very useful

3. (sometimes not neccesary) but enable the guests acounts on both computers. this will allow access without need for a username and password when accesing workgroup computers

4. select proper files and printer for sharing.

5. make sure to configure host pc (the one with the printer hooked up to it) firewall to allow your remote pc or laptops ip adress to acces the computer. this can be done in most third party firewalls as well as xps. if in xp you need to go under exceptions go to add port and then change scope then custom list here enter ip adress, then press enter, then type in computer name and a port. i used the number 1 and it let it work on the setup i tried but it may vary.

6. on wirless or wired pc that is trying to share the printer you must look under the workgroup option in the network places folder, click on host pc and double click on the printer it will ask to install drivers you may need your printer disk.

7. go to pinter folder in control panel and set as default if you choose.

8. from this point forward you can select this printer under any application to print from it.

9. as well you will be able to use any files from either computer across the network. and with the aproprite check box under the sharing option for a file you can alow files and folders to be alterd by other users across the network.


hope this helps a little bit at least for someone. any suggestions will help. and all questions apreciated.

 

Suggestions:

On step 3, enabling guest accounts is not neccessary if Simple File Sharing is enabled (only option in XP Home), and the network components are configured properly.


On step 5, the cstom exception is not needed for the XP firewall, file and printer sharing covers it, and is already an exception in the list. just need to make sure its checked.

6. A shortcut. Go to start, run, and type \\computername (of the machine hosting the printer). Double click on the shared printer in the folder that comes up. It will go through the same exact process from there on.

 

agreed for the most part about step 3 and 5.. but occasionaly errors will occor or the system just wont like things. and i found doing step 3-5 solved some problems.