Windows 7 Windows 7 printer sharing on non-domain LAN

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rando1000

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Our small company network has 2 Windows 7 computers and about 30 Windows XP computers. We also have several Lexmark T-model laser printers (T630, T640, etc). Having one of the two Windows 7 computers, I'm trying to get functional print capability. Lexmark does not make drivers for Windows 7 for those models, and while the Windows 7 native drivers work if the printer is directly connected to my PC, I cannot connect to it as a Network printer.

Attempting to connect to a shared-printer via a Windows XP computer yields a Wizard that hangs and eventually tells me it's unable to connect. Trying to connect to the other Windows 7 computer for print sharing brings up a dialog box asking for my login on the "domain", but each computer in the office has it's own login: we don't have an internal domain.

Suggestions?
 
Solution
Connecting a Windows 7 computer to shared printers on a network with a mix of Windows XP and Windows 7 machines can sometimes be challenging due to compatibility issues. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the printing issue:

Step 1: Enable File and Printer Sharing​

  1. Windows 7: Ensure that "File and Printer Sharing" is enabled on the Windows 7 computer. To do this, go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings, and make sure that "Turn on file and printer sharing" is selected.
  2. Windows XP: On the Windows XP computers, check the firewall settings to allow File and Printer Sharing. You can do this through the Control Panel > Windows...
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Connecting a Windows 7 computer to shared printers on a network with a mix of Windows XP and Windows 7 machines can sometimes be challenging due to compatibility issues. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the printing issue:

Step 1: Enable File and Printer Sharing​

  1. Windows 7: Ensure that "File and Printer Sharing" is enabled on the Windows 7 computer. To do this, go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change advanced sharing settings, and make sure that "Turn on file and printer sharing" is selected.
  2. Windows XP: On the Windows XP computers, check the firewall settings to allow File and Printer Sharing. You can do this through the Control Panel > Windows Firewall.

    Step 2: Share the Printer on the Windows XP Computer​

  3. Windows XP: Share the Lexmark printer from the Windows XP computer. Right-click on the printer, select Sharing, and enable printer sharing. Ensure that the printer is shared with an appropriate share name.

    Step 3: Connect Windows 7 Computer to Shared Printer​

  4. Windows 7: To connect to the shared printer from the Windows 7 computer, follow these steps:
    • Go to Control Panel > Devices and Printers > Add a printer.
    • Choose "Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer."
    • Select the shared printer from the list or manually enter the path to the shared printer (\XPComputerName\PrinterShareName).
    • If prompted, install the necessary drivers for the printer.

      Step 4: Workgroup Configuration​

    []Workgroup Settings: Ensure that all computers are in the same Workgroup. This can help with network discovery and sharing permissions between different Windows versions.

    Step 5: Authentication Issues​

    [    ]Unique Logins: If prompted for a domain login when connecting to the Windows 7 computer, try using the local login credentials of the Windows 7 computer instead of a domain login.

Additional Tips:​

  • Ensure that the network permissions are set up correctly, allowing sharing between different operating systems.
  • Make sure that the Lexmark printer is shared with appropriate permissions for other users to access it.
  • Consider updating the drivers on the Windows 7 computer to the latest version available for better compatibility.
By following these steps, you should be able to connect your Windows 7 computer to the shared Lexmark printers on your network, even without specific Windows 7 drivers from Lexmark. If you continue to face issues, let me know for further assistance.
 
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