how do I print

[luvmyfam444]

from my laptop to my main computer in the other room? How do I get them to talk to each other?

 

[Jennasis]

It's all voodoo to me. My laptop (that I am on now) talks to the main computer. I can "see" the other desktop and it can see mine. DH set it up that way. I just asked him how he did it, and he got real quiet. All he would say was "I don't thinkit's a trivial thing in windows". We use Linux. He asked if both computers are in the same network (you can't do it from say your office to home, but in the house, yes). He said try this linlk:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/maintain/printers.mspx

 

[erincon23]

This is how we do it in my house -- you walk your laptop from the room it's in to the room where the main computer is. You pull the cord for the printer out of the main computer and plug it into the laptop. Then you select File, Print. I know my frustration level -- trying to figure out how to wirelessly print would send it right over the edge. Oh, and don't forget to replug the printer cord into the main computer.

 

[Imzadi]

I use my email. I email myself the file from my laptop by attaching it to the email. I open it on my main computer and download it. This way I have a copy on my main computer. I can print it from there.

Alternately, I load the file(s) to a flash drive from my laptop, then plug the flash drive into the USB slot on my main computer and upload them.

I've never tried getting my computers to talk to each other. I don't have the patience or software (probably) to get them to do that.

 

[golfgal]

You get a wireless printer

If your desktop isn't set up for a wireless network it won't work, I tried .

 

[floridaminnie]

You get a wireless printer

If your desktop isn't set up for a wireless network it won't work, I tried .

Mine is set up without a wireless network, but I have NO idea how it was set up. I didn't do it! I do know all computers need to be set up to the internet and the computer that is hooked up to the printer needs to be on to work. Sorry that I couldn't be more help.

 

[Imzadi]

Mine is set up without a wireless network, but I have NO idea how it was set up. I didn't do it! I do know all computers need to be set up to the internet and the computer that is hooked up to the printer needs to be on to work. Sorry that I couldn't be more help.

Maybe you have a Bluetooth printer?

 

[floridaminnie]

Maybe you have a Bluetooth printer?

Nope...have a nice cheap printer. Didn't have wireless internet access till this past week and regular putters are still hardwired to internet. Only laptop is wireless.

 

[luvmyfam444]

HA! Glad to know I'm not the ONLY clueless one out there!
I usually just email things to myself as well - I'm too lazy to plug & unplug
Just thought I'd ask - but since it doesn't sound like its simple I think I'll just keep on computer hopping or emailing myself when I need to print.


but I will check out that link....just in case

 

[floridaminnie]

What version of windows do you have? I just found out how to use it on Windows 7...If you have an earlier version (not vista, but the one before that), I'll get off the couch to see in my other computer.

 

[Imzadi]

but since it doesn't sound like its simple I think I'll just keep on computer hopping or emailing myself when I need to print.


but I will check out that link....just in case

We don't know if it's simple - we just don't know how to do it.

 

[clh2]

Don't you need a router in there somewhere?

**DH is a techie...but I've picked up on a few things throughout the years. Just enough to be dangerous...without knowing details.

 

[floridaminnie]

Yes you do need a router, but it doesn't need to wireless.

 

[FireDancer]

Actually you need a switch, not a router. Switches link computers on a single LAN while Routers connect separate LANS or connect a LAN to something else, like the Internet. If both computers are sharing an Internet connection you probably have a router with a built in switch and that switch can be wired or wireless (and most likely is both).

All you need to do is make sure the printer on the desktop is shared since all windows computers since at least Windows 95 have a built in print server. If that printer is shared the easiest way to add it to the laptop is to click start -> run and in the box type:

\\ComputerName\PrinterName

where ComputerName is the host name of your computer and PrinterName is the name of your printer. You'll have to make sure you give the laptop permission to use the printer on the sharing tab of your printer's properties. That should install the printer on a TCP/IP port on your computer.

You can get a Microsoft (all this is assuming you are using some release of Windows) knowledge base article by Googling "sharing a printer using Windows xxx" and put the release of windows you are using in the string.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Okay, this is going to get a little bit complicated but stay with me.



When I opened my laptop, I saw the little paper and the cords and I looked at my husband and said, "I dunno!" and then the next day I could print wirelessly from the laptop any place in the house to the printer in the office.

 

[erincon23]

Okay, this is going to get a little bit complicated but stay with me.



When I opened my laptop, I saw the little paper and the cords and I looked at my husband and said, "I dunno!" and then the next day I could print wirelessly from the laptop any place in the house to the printer in the office.

Unfortunately, the tech fairy in the house is usually me... but my tech savvy is limited and "I dunno" would get your a "me neither."

 

[Maridw]

This is how we do it in my house -- you walk your laptop from the room it's in to the room where the main computer is. You pull the cord for the printer out of the main computer and plug it into the laptop. Then you select File, Print. I know my frustration level -- trying to figure out how to wirelessly print would send it right over the edge. Oh, and don't forget to replug the printer cord into the main computer.

This is how we used to do it in our house. Then Office Depot had wireless printers on sale with a great rebate so we got one of those and I love it. It makes it so much easier. Because it is an all-in-one printer/scanner/copier/fax machine. Right now the phone line in that room doesn't work so we can't use the fax, but we rarely used it before so no problem.

 

[MrsToad]

What operating system do you have? Here is an article on how to do it with XP from the Microsoft site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_july2.mspx