How can I print from my laptop to the printer connected to my desktop PC?
04. Oct, 2010 
6 Comments
Question by Mazzy: How can I print from my laptop to the printer connected to my desktop PC?
I recently purchased a Dell notebook computer running Vista. I have a wireless network in my home (through my local TWC) that both my desktop and notebook use to connect to the Internet. The desktop PC is connected to a printer via UBS cable but I would like to somehow print from my notebook without have to unhook the cable from the desktop. Is that possible? If so, how would I set that up and do I need to install the printer driver on my notebook, as well.
Best answer:
Answer by John B
There are several wireless routers for printers. Try here:
linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C1&…/Common/VisitorWrapper
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First thing is to share the printer in your desktop computer
Right click on the printer, select sharing, choose a name and remember that name.
Then you go to wireless computer and type in internet or windws explorer
\nameofthecomputernameoftheprinter
righ click on the printer and connect.
most likely it willask you for the drivers sice it is Vista. Download the drivers on your laptop and installthem.
Good luck
PS to know the name of the computer right click on my computer > Properties > Computer name
First, you would have to set up the desktop for print sharing. You can do that by going to printers then sharing. You will have to install the print driver on your laptop. The main drawback to this (for me anyway) is that the desktop computer has to be on for you to print to the printer because it is shared through the desktop. If you can, it is much easier in the long run to buy a network ready printer and connecting it that way with a Ethernet cable to your router. The drivers have to be installed on each computer this way as well but you can print from any of the computers to the printer. I have a HP 6980 for this. This printer is about $130.
Your computers are on the same network. So go to the control panel on the desktop and in “file and printer sharing” share the printer. Then install the printer on the laptop as a networked printer. You will be asked to install the drivers.
Then you can print from the laptop as long as the dekstop PC is on.
i have to words wireless router
go to bestbuy.com
type in wireless routers in the search box
thenyoull get a selection th look at
but it will cost a good $50
Yes.
All you have to do is go through the file and printer sharing wizard on both computers.
It should be under control panel, but I am not very familiar with Vista. When all else fails, look for it in the “help and support” area of vista.
All hardware (printers, modems, scanners etc. etc. require that the software be installed to the computer that will be using it. Sometimes, Windows (2000 up) has the drivers included with the Windows install CD, or maybe even have the drivers added to Windows during its setup..and all that will be necessary is connect the device and Windows recognizes it and adds it to the operations.
Microsoft can only include so much, and they select devices they feel will be around for a good while…otherwise, you will need to add the setup software for the printer to allow your laptop to “know it is there”.
Try connecting the laptop to the printer VIA a USB cable and see what happens..if the setup Wizard sees the printer and wants to install it…follow through to see what happens..if at some point, the Wizard wants to know where the drivers are at..try pointing (browsing) the wizard to C:Windowssystem32 (Not too sure if that path is correct for Vista). If the wizard fails to complete the setup, means the drivers are not on the laptop and must be installed.
If the setup is successful, you can add a USB hub to the USB ports from the computer…then, have an extra USB cable to connect from the laptop to the USB hub. I would have the main desktop machine turned off at this time, and allow the laptops USB system work the printer. (A “hub” is simply a USP spliter..you will have one connection coming from the main machines USB port, but then…the hub will have 4 or more USB output ports up on the desktop area where you can get to it).
There might be a way to setup a wireless printer control between your laptop and the printer…newer printers have this built in…don’t know if there is some wireless hard ware to do that for older printers.