[savagegreywolf]

Small office network, just moved into a new building. Trying to connect a laptop to the network to use shared resources. Machine is running XP, Workgroup name is the same (has been checked several times) and no other computers show up in My Network Places. Can connect to the internet just fine, can also connect to computers on the network if the path is entered manually. I need however to connect to a shared printer on another computer and if it cannot locate the computer on the network I'm not sure how to connect to the shared printer. This happens whether the laptop is connected to the network wireless or wired.

[JohnWill]

Sounds like a browser issue.

This is a procedure that may work for installing network printers when the normal install doesn't work properly.

1. Select: Control Panel, Printers, Add Printer
2. Choose Add Local Printer.
3. Uncheck the box marked :Automatically detect my PnP printer.
4. Click Next
5. Select Create a New Port and leave the default in the drop down selection as Local Port.
6. Click Next
7. Windows displays a small dialogue box asking a port name.
8. Key in: \\<computer_name>\<printer_name> See note below
9. Click OK
10. Windows will show a list of printer vendors and models. The list looks just like the Windows Add Hardware Dialog. Select your printer manufacturer and printer model from the list. If your specific printer isn't shown, you can click on Have Disk and browse to the folder where you have the unpacked drivers for your printer.

Note:

<computer_name> - Computer name from Control Panel, System status display.
<printer_name> - The actual name of the network printer viewed by browsing to the shared printer on the network.

[savagegreywolf]

I'm trying this, but since HP has this big stupid bloatware disc that they want you to install to get your printer running I'm having a bit of trouble. Anyways, for the future, is there a way I can fix this error? Didn't have it at the old office.

[TerryNet]

What is the printer model number?

[savagegreywolf]

Hm, I'm thinking this has something to do with our wireless router because I'm having the same problem on an entirely separate laptop trying to connect using Wifi. I could use any suggestions to help me figure out what the problem might be.

[TerryNet]

Show for the computer with the printer connected and for a computer having trouble seeing the printer ...

Start, Run, CMD, OK to open a command prompt:
(For Vista or 7 type CMD in the Search box after Start)

Type the following command:

IPCONFIG /ALL

[Note that there is no space between the slash and ALL.]

Right click in the command window and choose Select All, then hit Enter.
Paste the results in a message here.

If necessary use a text file and removable media to copy the results to a computer with internet access.