Windows 7 Windows 7 & Network Printer

[Cheemag]

Having just reinstalled Windows-7 Prof 64-bit I cannot use the installed printer on that machine from a net-attached machine. It doesn't see it, even if I put the correct details into the 'Browse for a Printer' box. Can't find it/can't find any net printer. It all worked well in a previous install.

File and printer sharing is on, networking passwords are off. Drivers updated yesterday. The printer works from the Win-7 machine.

I haven't tried this in the other direction, putting a net printer on the XP end.

Any ideas, anyone?

Regards,

Cheemag

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you are experiencing issues with accessing the installed printer on a Windows 7 Professional 64-bit machine from another networked machine. This can be frustrating, especially when it was working well previously. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve this issue:

Troubleshooting Steps:​

1. Check Network Discovery & Printer Sharing Settings:
   • Ensure that Network Discovery and File and Printer Sharing are turned on.
     • Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings.
     • Make sure that Network Discovery, File and Printer Sharing, and Public folder sharing are enabled.
   []Verify Printer Sharing Permissions:
   • Check the permissions set for the shared printer.
   • Right-click on the shared printer > Printer Properties > Sharing tab > Share this printer.
   • Make sure that the appropriate permissions are set for other devices to access the printer.
   []Check Firewall Settings:
   • Ensure that the firewall settings on both the Windows 7 machine and the networked machine are not blocking printer sharing.
   • You may need to add exceptions for printer and file sharing in the firewall settings.
   []Update Printer Drivers:
   • Ensure that the printer drivers on both the Windows 7 machine and the networked machine are up-to-date.
   • Consider uninstalling and reinstalling the printer drivers if needed.
   []Test Printing from the Networked Machine:
   • Try adding the printer from the networked machine by using the \ComputerName\PrinterShareName path in the 'Add Printer' wizard.
   • Ensure that you are using the correct printer share name.
   []Restart Print Spooler Service:
   • Sometimes restarting the Print Spooler service on the Windows 7 machine can resolve printer sharing issues.
     • Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter.
     • Locate the Print Spooler service, right-click on it, and select Restart.
   []Check Workgroup Settings:
   • Ensure that both machines are in the same workgroup.
   • Go to Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings > Computer Name tab.

     Additional Suggestions:​

   • Test Printer Sharing from XP Machine:
   • You mentioned not trying this in the other direction. Testing printer sharing from the XP machine can help isolate the issue.
   • Network Troubleshooting:
   • Run network diagnostics or use tools like the Windows Network Diagnostic tool to identify potential network issues. By following these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot the printer sharing issue between your Windows 7 machine and the networked one. If you encounter any specific errors or need further assistance, feel free to provide more details for targeted troubleshooting.