New PC-W8H 64; Work Laptop-W7P 32 - printer share

[jhausch]

A Call for Help....

New home PC is Windows 8 Home, 64 bit
"Work" Laptop is Windows 7 Pro, 32 bit

"Work" is in quotes because I am an independent rep. It is my laptop, but the IT guys at the company I mainly represent set it up to work on their network. It is on a "domain"

Since new home PC is a mini-tower, the printer is connected to it.

The interwebz says I can't connect a PC on a domain to a PC "homegroup"

I can see the new PC on my "network map." I am in the upper left, the new PC is in the lower left...I don't know what the question mark is.....I can't click on it and it has no properties....

Any ideas?

 

[jhausch]

Well, at minimum I expected at least one "Get a Mac" post

 

[TMetzinger]

Get a printer with a network interface - cheaper than a Mac.

Seriously, you might see if you can share the printer from the windows 8 pc without making it a "homegroup" share.

 

[jhausch]

Get a printer with a network interface - cheaper than a Mac.

Seriously, you might see if you can share the printer from the windows 8 pc without making it a "homegroup" share.

I will give that a try. Thanks.

I bought a refurb wireless print server on Amazon - the first one worked for a week. The second one worked for a week. Then I gave up. It was getting super hot to the touch - the design had issues.....

 

[haskell99]

I had this same issue with my "work" computer. You can't use Homegroups with a domain login computer, but you can connect to a workgroup.

What I had to do was make my home PC workgroup name the SAME as the domain name of my laptop. Then they saw each other and worked fine together. You should be able to continue to use the Homegroup if you need to. If not, I just turn it off.

Hopefully it will work for you.


Eddie
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[RJM62]

Get a network printer like Tim suggested (or a print server), assign it a static IP, and be done with it. I haven't used anything other than TCP/IP to connect to a printer in more than a decade.

-Rich

 

[John221us]

Get a network printer like Tim suggested (or a print server), assign it a static IP, and be done with it. I haven't used anything other than TCP/IP to connect to a printer in more than a decade.

-Rich

++1. These are cheap enough and will solve your problem.

 

[jhausch]

My first attempt at the workgroup idea did not work. Been very busy lately, but will try again this weekend.

Regarding the print server - my first experience was not a good one (info in first post, I think).

Could anyone make a recommendation for a wireless print server I could plug our printer into? I am happy with our laser printer and have no desire to buy a cheap inkjet that already has the printer server, but uses $50 ink cartridges that don't last long.

 

[John221us]

My first attempt at the workgroup idea did not work. Been very busy lately, but will try again this weekend.

Regarding the print server - my first experience was not a good one (info in first post, I think).

Could anyone make a recommendation for a wireless print server I could plug our printer into? I am happy with our laser printer and have no desire to buy a cheap inkjet that already has the printer server, but uses $50 ink cartridges that don't last long.

You can get a cheap laser for under $200 with a print server. Some of those standalone print servers can be pretty goofy as they try to accommodate bidirectional printing and all in one scanning. I would just spring for an HP or an Epson and it should work great for you. Get an AirPrint compatible one and you will be able to print from an iPad or iPhone as an added benefit.

 

[RJM62]

Actually, what printer do you have? Does it have Ethernet?

If so, you may be able to use a bridge.

I'm afraid that I haven't purchased any wireless print servers in a couple of years, so I'm not up on which ones are reliable nowadays.

-Rich

 

[jhausch]

Well - couldn't get it to work. I have an XP Pro laptop that is near retirement. I even tried connecting it to the printer and the setting up a network with that laptop, the new W8-64 machine and this W7-32 machine - no joy. Oh well....

 

[RJM62]

This is a bit harder to explain than it is to do....

The machines don't have to be networked to "share" the printer using TCP/IP. They do need to be on a common gateway / router, but none of the computers need to own nor "share" the printer.

If you're connecting with a print server or Ethernet bridge, try uninstalling the printer from all the computers. Then give the print server / bridge a static IP outside of the router's DHCP range, and re-install the printer on each computer by choosing "Standard TCP/IP" as the connection and pointing the machines at the IP address.

When asked by Windows if you want to share the printer, say no. The Windows printer sharing is designed to allow other computers on the network to access an LPT or USB printer by essentially using the computer it's connected to as a print server. That's inefficient and unnecessary when using TCP/IP.

-Rich

 

[flyingron]

Get a dedicated print spooler like a HP jetdirect and just tell both machines to queue directly to it via the TCP/IP device port. That's what I did.

 

[jhausch]

I agree that a wireless print server for the printer is the easiest solution. I tried it once, but the device I tried kept overheating and dying (poor design, no wonder so many were available so cheap on refurb...).

I'll likely go that route again.

Thanks all. I appreciate the help.

 

[masloki]

I took the route of grabbing a brother all in one laser, that had Ethernet, for $80 or something ridiculously cheap on sale. All computers see it directly; i threw it on a share for the iThings to print to it, and worked out pretty well. Network scanning and printing is the cats meow. No name cartridges are available too, making it super cheap over the long haul.