Wireless network printer sharing

[headcase]

My eldest brought home a netbook from school today that he will be keeping until the end of the year to assist them in School and at home. It would be usefull if I could set it up so it can use our printer/scanner combo thingy.

Currently I have the laptop that i am typing on now, it runs Vista Home premium. I have found the printer sharing option and turned it ON. The printer connects to this laptop via USB

The netbook uses XP Home edition. I have run the 'Setup Home or Small Office Network' wizard but this warns me that i will be making the printer and shared folders open to the internet (not good), i did ignore this and try it out but cant get it to print via the network.

My router is a BT Home Hub. Both the laptop and the NetBook connect to this fine and can both use the internet. Both are connected wirelesly.

Plugging the printer directly to the netbook i think isnt an option as the letter that came with the Netbook asked us not to install any additional software on it.


So is it possible to set up the Netbook so that when he goes to File/Print then it will just print using the printer connected to the laptop? (not too bothered if the scanner dosent work, just interested in the printer)

Sorry if this is a numpty question, im quite good at getting the wireless internet bit working but this is a little beyond my talents

[twinturboz]

Do you have the option of connecting the printer directly to the router via Ethernet cable?
Asking because on my hp combo thing all I had to do was connect the printer to the wireless router. That way you dont need to print through the other laptop.

Edited by twinturboz on Thursday 11th February 11:02

[jesta1865]

is the printer a wireless one or is it usb only.

if its usb only you can share it out, but then the machine has to be on full time.

i take it you can't plug it into the bt homehub via usb.

if you have a wired or wifi connection on the printer its easy.

its only not easy with usb only as you need to leave the machine its connected to switched on.

let us know one of us will be able to give you instructions.

[Ultuous]

Along similar lines as above, it is 'possible' (i.e. there seems to be a mixed success rate depending on the specific hardware involved!) to use a Homehub as wireless print server via USB - not tried it myself and try it at your own risk, but there seems to be a decent guide as to how to set it up here

[convert]

You could buy a USB network hub, or USB / Network print server.

[headcase]

The printer is USB only, its not really a problem leaving the laptop on as it generally will be on anyways especially when the Netbook needs to print.

It is possible to plug the Printer into the Home hub but ive googled that and it seems that the Home Hub will not act as a print server.


Also the word 'buy' is not an option, if it cant be done by pressing buttons then printing from the netbook will not be an option for him

[headcase]

Ultuous said:

Along similar lines as above, it is 'possible' (i.e. there seems to be a mixed success rate depending on the specific hardware involved!) to use a Homehub as wireless print server via USB - not tried it myself and try it at your own risk, but there seems to be a decent guide as to how to set it up here

My home hub is noware near the printer or id give that a go..... infact i may give it ago anyways just to see if it can be done