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General discussion (archive)Networking Technical Help, If someone can.(24 posts)(24 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted July 07, 2012
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OldFatGuy: SNIP
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Tallin: Do all these things in order, one at a time, and restart both computers and test after each step. If it works, you don't have to do any further steps.

1. Be sure in XP that the name of the Workgroup is "WORKGROUP". (Right-click on "My Computer," select "Properties." The default workgroup name for XP is MSHOME. Click the "Change" button next to "To rename this computer or to join a Domain." If it is anything but "WORKGROUP" for the workgroup name, rename it to this.) If you change anything, restart the computer.

2. Change encryption on the Win7 machine to 40 or 56-bit. (Open "Start" menu, click "Control Panel," under "Network and Internet" group, select "Choose homegroup and sharing options," then find "Change advanced sharing settings." Now scroll down to "File sharing connections" and change it from 128-bit to 40- or 56-bit)

3. If this doesn't work, look one more setting further down from the last and choose "Turn off password protected sharing." Note: this should only be done on Home or Work, never Public networks. (If you scroll all the way down and see "Public" with a long line and a downward pointing arrow, then you're doing it right).

Try these and see if any of them work...
I'm not at my desk at the moment, but the only one I'm unsure about is 1. I know that 2 and 3 are already set up that way because I specifically selectted those options under Network and Sharing Advanced features. I believe number 1, the workgroup on the dell set up as WORKGROUP, is also true, but my memory is more fuzzy on that one. WIll check when I get home.

But are you saying the name of the workgroup could affect it's functionality?? That seems.... odd.
Post edited July 07, 2012 by OldFatGuy
Posted July 07, 2012
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JMich: Just a quick question, shouldn't it be better for 2) to increase the XP encryption instead of reducing the Win7 one? End result should be the same though, but I'm not sure how to change the encryption level on XP.
It may be possible that the encryption level was added with an update, but it is also possible that it is only available on XP Pro, or not at all. I can't find any concrete answer and I don't have an XP machine readily available to test it on. I did find this little tutorial, however, referring to the OP's problem:

http://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-7/xp-to-windows-7-printer-sharing/

You may want to try this before my suggestions above.
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OldFatGuy: I'm not at my desk at the moment, but the only one I'm unsure about is 1. I know that 2 and 3 are already set up that way because I specifically selectted those options under Network and Sharing Advanced features. I believe number 1, the workgroup on the dell set up as WORKGROUP, is also true, but my memory is more fuzzy on that one. WIll check when I get home.

But are you saying the name of the workgroup could affect it's functionality?? That seems.... odd.
Not really. Since you are using the Windows file system to share the printer, if the workgroup names are different then it will see it as a different network and won't want to share. Windows 7 uses WORKGROUP by default, and its could cause trouble down the line if you change it on that end. The XP machine uses MSHOME by default and is completely fine to change...
Post edited July 07, 2012 by Tallin
Posted July 07, 2012
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Tallin: It may be possible that the encryption level was added with an update, but it is also possible that it is only available on XP Pro, or not at all. I can't find any concrete answer and I don't have an XP machine readily available to test it on. I did find this little tutorial, however, referring to the OP's problem:

http://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-7/xp-to-windows-7-printer-sharing/

You may want to try this before my suggestions above.
Ooh, this step by step example you found is different from the one I found and has a couple of steps at the bottom I havne't tried yet. Gonna try not to be too excited, but THANK YOU for that link. Man I hope one of those adjustments helps. Gonna try it later when back at my desk.

Thanks again for that link.
Post edited July 07, 2012 by OldFatGuy
Posted July 07, 2012
Ok,

First, the workgroup name on XP was NOT WORKGROUP, it was OLDFATGUY HOME.

Changed it to WORKGROUP, restarted, and.... nothing.

Then followed this latest link's step by step, and... nothing.

It wouldn't even let me get passed step 2. When I clicked on "Add a printer" in step 3, a box pops up saying I can't add a printer because the local print spool is something and something something. Please restart printer spool or restart machine.

Tried restarting the laptop several times, and always get that message.

And again, even though the printer shows up as an option, and shows up as the default printer, when I try to actually print anything..... nothing.

Its not going to do anybody any good to continue to try this remotely. I will either pay the money (least likely), live without the laptop being able to print (most likely), or hook up another printer to the laptop (50/50).

Thanks again for all the help and responses. You guys are all so great here at GOG. I honestly don't think I would've successfully built my first ever self build if it hadn't been for the fine folks here. THANK YOU ALL AGAIN VERY VERY VERY MUCH!!!
Posted July 07, 2012
Had this very same issue at work on Friday, and eventually figured out a fix.

Assuming that the printer connected to the XP machine is an HP (some of the comments in this thread suggest this is the case), get the Universal Print Driver from the HP website and update the driver to this on the XP machine.

Make sure the printer is shared.

On the Windows 7 PC, go to "add printer" as you normally would, and select network printer, and choose the second option (can't remember what it's called at the moment).

Type: //nameofxpmachine/printersharename
Posted July 08, 2012
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nmillar: snip...
For the record, I went ahead and tried this as well.

Nothing.

Now I'm beginning to wonder if a real techie might have trouble if s/he were sitting here.

So frustrating. Last laptop hit a couple buttons, boom. That was Vista. But no. Always wanting to change crap, just to make more money, so now we have Windows 7. And now no printer.
Post edited July 08, 2012 by OldFatGuy
Posted July 08, 2012
Try to add it like it was a local printer instead of a shared network printer. Windows 7 seems to be finicky with the network printer option.

My Brother MFC255cw will not even bother waking from sleep mode if I try adding it as a network printer, even though windows sees it and has it listed as the default printer, it will just not make the handshake and its got its own wifi connection and IP. Strangely it demands to be considered a local printer even though its shared through a wifi connection and not physically attached to the computer I print from.
Post edited July 08, 2012 by zmagnum
Posted July 08, 2012
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zmagnum: Try to add it like it was a local printer instead of a shared network printer. Windows 7 seems to be finicky with the network printer option.

My Brother MFC255cw will not even bother waking from sleep mode if I try adding it as a network printer, even though windows sees it and has it listed as the default printer, it will just not make the handshake and its got its own wifi connection and IP. Strangely it demands to be considered a local printer even though its shared through a wifi connection and not physically attached to the computer I print from.
Yeah, I tried that. (Went ahead and tried again though just to be sure). No go.

But that was one of the things I hadn't tried when that link a few posts ago was posted and I was pretty excited thinking that might work, but... nope.

Anyway, thanks for all the thoughts again. *#(*#&&*@%^ Microsoft!
Posted July 08, 2012
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zmagnum: Try to add it like it was a local printer instead of a shared network printer. Windows 7 seems to be finicky with the network printer option.

My Brother MFC255cw will not even bother waking from sleep mode if I try adding it as a network printer, even though windows sees it and has it listed as the default printer, it will just not make the handshake and its got its own wifi connection and IP. Strangely it demands to be considered a local printer even though its shared through a wifi connection and not physically attached to the computer I print from.
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OldFatGuy: Yeah, I tried that. (Went ahead and tried again though just to be sure). No go.

But that was one of the things I hadn't tried when that link a few posts ago was posted and I was pretty excited thinking that might work, but... nope.

{b] Anyway, thanks for all the thoughts again. *#(*#&&*@%^ Microsoft!
Windows 7 is a great OS imo but not without its issues, they went way to far in the direction of linux when it comes to sharing. It might be more secure that way but its also not user friendly. Their replacement for the oldschool Samba share, Homegroups is prone to freezing and incompatible with XP, therefore unusable in my opinion. They broke what wasn't broken.

While I'm an A+ Hardware certified tech (future CCNA - Cisco Certified Network Associate tech) , I'm stumped, I'd have to be at the device to correctly diagnose the problem and implement a fix. I think your right that you might have to have someone on site to look at it, I would not recommend Geeksquad, you'd have better luck with your local mom and pop pc shop. Geeksquad employs uncertified techs, in other words if their automated software can't fix it they have no clue what they are doing. Management is more concerned with upselling you on something that you don't need than they are fixing the problem. I was advised by my IT professor to never work for them with the certs I have or will have when I get done with all my courses as my skills would be put to waste.

Good luck!
Post edited July 09, 2012 by zmagnum
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General discussion (archive)Networking Technical Help, If someone can.(24 posts)(24 posts)
(24 posts)