Can't connect to shared printer

vail3r

vail3r

vail3r

Associate
Joined
28 Feb 2009
Posts
871
I've just set up a printer on one computer and I'm trying to connect to it from another.

When I go to add the printer, I can browse for it on the network, select it but then it says windows can't connect to it.

Any ideas where to go from here?
 
Sounds a stupid question, but is the printer fully online when you attempt this? Often on the first time you add one, it wants it to be fully online, rather than in sleep state, despite that you can see it on the network. "Seeing" it on the network, does not necessarily mean it is online and can be windows "knowing" about it, but it's not really online.

Otherwise, have you checked you have all the windows file and printer sharing stuff turned on? There's a menu option somewhere in windows where you can click a toggle to turn that stuff on. I can't get it to it now on my work machine as it's all different as locked down via corporate policy.
 
Orcvader said:
What's the printer model? If it has WiFi or ethernet it would make it a lot easier to set up instead of having a PC share it, which I never found reliable.
Click to expand...

It's an old Brother Mono laser printer with mega cheap toner so it works great. It would just be really handy if I could print from my laptop.

jaybee said:
Sounds a stupid question, but is the printer fully online when you attempt this? Often on the first time you add one, it wants it to be fully online, rather than in sleep state, despite that you can see it on the network. "Seeing" it on the network, does not necessarily mean it is online and can be windows "knowing" about it, but it's not really online.

Otherwise, have you checked you have all the windows file and printer sharing stuff turned on? There's a menu option somewhere in windows where you can click a toggle to turn that stuff on. I can't get it to it now on my work machine as it's all different as locked down via corporate policy.
Click to expand...

I've tried adding it just after printing to it from the desktop so I assume it's not sleeping. All sharing settings I can find are on.
 
vail3r said:
It's an old Brother Mono laser printer with mega cheap toner so it works great. It would just be really handy if I could print from my laptop.



I've tried adding it just after printing to it from the desktop so I assume it's not sleeping. All sharing settings I can find are on.
Click to expand...

Is it connected via USB? Which Windows version is the host using as well as the others? You may need to go to control panel -> network and sharing -> advanced sharing settings -> all networks and turn off password protected sharing.
 
Orcvader said:
Is it connected via USB? Which Windows version is the host using as well as the others? You may need to go to control panel -> network and sharing -> advanced sharing settings -> all networks and turn off password protected sharing.
Click to expand...

Yeah it's connected via USB, both have drivers installed for it. Password protected sharing is already off.

The host is Windows 10 and other windows 11
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom