Printer driver question

[Boomyal]

If no drivers were written for a given printer, for Windows 7, does that mean that Win 7 will not even be able to see that printer? The printer in question is declared shared and hooked to another computer on the wired network.

Just askin' 'cause when I go to 'add printer' on the Win 7 machine (hooked to the wired network) it comes up with no choices.

 

[i386]

Re: Printer driver question

I'm assuming this is for the LaserJet 2100 and you're still willing to give it a go...

It should work just fine if it worked before. You just need to download the correct driver for Windows 7. More on that in a sec. How does the printer connect to the computer, USB? The install procedure can differ depending on how it's connected, but you will need the driver nonetheless.

Go to http://www.hp.com

Click on Support and Drivers

Under Enter product name/number, type LaserJet 2100 and click Go

There are 5 variants of the LJ 2100 printer. Choose the one you have.

Choose which Operating System you have. It will either be Windows 7 32-bit or Windows 7 64-bit.

And finally, I would suggest going with either the PCL5 or PCL6 driver.



That should get you started. Let us know how the printer is connected and we can help you along.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Printer driver question

The printer is connected to my main computer ie, Family Computer via a multi pin connecter. (my, how soon we forget the names) It is not USB.

As a comparison, I just added the 2100 to my spare Dell Dimension XP machine. The 'add printer' function found the printer on the Family Computer and added it, budda bing.

On the Win 7 Laptop, 'add printer' does not even see it as a choice. The 'family computer' also has a USB HP OfficeJet attached to it. The Win 7 unit did not see nor display it as a choice either.

I had similar problems a while ago trying to get my daughter's Vista laptop to see shared printers. As she no longer resides here, I gave up. XP has been my friend. These new fangled OS p*** me off!

 

[i386]

Re: Printer driver question

So it's a shared network printer you're trying to connect to... Until you're able to "see" the printer, it's a network configuration problem, not a printer problem. A new printer won't fix that.

Here's a quick and dirty test... On the new Win7 computer, press the Windows key on the keyboard + R. That will bring up the run dialog box. (It's the same as Start -> Run, but sometimes that is turned off in Win7). In that box, type \\computername (where computername = the name of the computer sharing the printer) and hit enter. It should open a window showing any printers or folders being shared by that computer. If not then you need to do some network configuration first.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Printer driver question

So it's a shared network printer you're trying to connect to... Until you're able to "see" the printer, it's a network configuration problem, not a printer problem. A new printer won't fix that.

Here's a quick and dirty test... On the new Win7 computer, press the Windows key on the keyboard + R. That will bring up the run dialog box. (It's the same as Start -> Run, but sometimes that is turned off in Win7). In that box, type \\computername (where computername = the name of the computer sharing the printer) and hit enter. It should open a window showing any printers or folders being shared by that computer. If not then you need to do some network configuration first.

I'm late seeing this i386. I will try your recommendations as soon as I am able. It is a travesty that you have to go thru so many hoops to get MS's latests, greatest operating system to see a printer hooked to a computer that uses MS's last, rather bullet proof operating system!!

 

[i386]

Re: Printer driver question

Honestly, it wouldn't matter if you had bought a new computer with XP on it. There is still network setup required before you can connect to a shared resource on another computer.

We may yet have an opportunity to cuss at Win7, but I don't think we're there yet.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Printer driver question

Theres a shift alt or control alt thing that brings the run on the list of tools in property s addmin tool run is added ...you have to be logged as admin to do it's the same in vista ...google it I can't remember exactly

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Printer driver question

Honestly, it wouldn't matter if you had bought a new computer with XP on it. There is still network setup required before you can connect to a shared resource on another computer.

We may yet have an opportunity to cuss at Win7, but I don't think we're there yet.

I have otherwise been occupied these last few days, so I haven't expended any effort on this subject. Suffice it to say, I just hauled out an old Dell XP PC from the boneyard (dear departed FIL's old computer) hooked it up to MY wired network and budda bing, it sees my primary computer and the two printers hooked to it. No muss, no fuss. This old Dell had never even been hooked up to a network. It was a stand alone unit that was hooked up to the internet via cable.

I will be spending more time with this on the weekend.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Printer driver question

......Here's a quick and dirty test... On the new Win7 computer, press the Windows key on the keyboard + R. That will bring up the run dialog box. (It's the same as Start -> Run, but sometimes that is turned off in Win7). In that box, type \\computername (where computername = the name of the computer sharing the printer) and hit enter. It should open a window showing any printers or folders being shared by that computer. If not then you need to do some network configuration first.

I did just that. I hit the windows key +R and it opened the run box. I entered \\family-computer and hit enter. It said it could not find it. It said to make sure that the computer name was spelled right then gave me the option to diagnose. I hit the button and it came back and said "make sure the computer is hooked to the network and is turned on, otherwise contact you network administrator" (I paraphrase)

Why the H**l should I need a network administrator to link up to a printer on another computer on the same network????

 

[i386]

Re: Printer driver question

Why the H**l should I need a network administrator to link up to a printer on another computer on the same network????

Hehe, well you shouldn't but I am one. The truly sad part is that I've never gotten Win7 and XP working together in a workgroup environment which is what you have at home. (It's done quite a bit differently in a corporate environment) I'm sure if I had to I could figure it out, I just don't have the exact procedure memorized. I will give you a good guess about how I think it needs to be done. I'm sure someone will correct me....

First, need to get a little bit of info. On the XP computer, right-click My Computer, click Properties, then the Computer Name Tab. (Windows Key + Pause/Break Key will also bring up that window). Regardless, write down the name of the workgroup. Some common default names are "workgroup" or "mshome".

Now on the Windows 7 computer you should find the "Network Sharing Center" or something like that in the Control Panel. And somewhere in there you should find some kind of network setup wizard. Give the laptop a unique name, and put it in the same workgroup as your family-computer.

After all that jazz try the Start -> Run \\family-computer<ENTER> test again.



Fair warning, if this succeeds there's going to be extra steps to go through to get the printer working but it's a good starting point.

If someone hasn't chimed in to fill in the blanks by tomorrow when I check this post, I will fire up my Win7 laptop and see if I can get you some more accurate information.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Printer driver question

Do CMD >>>rmtshare or prncnfg or prnmngr work in windows 7 don't know thats why I ask xp they do

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Printer driver question

Do CMD >>>rmtshare or prncnfg or prnmngr work in windows 7 don't know thats why I ask xp they do

Huh? I unerstan the first part but not the last?

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Printer driver question

......Now on the Windows 7 computer you should find the "Network Sharing Center" or something like that in the Control Panel. And somewhere in there you should find some kind of network setup wizard. Give the laptop a unique name, and put it in the same workgroup as your family-computer.

After all that jazz try the Start -> Run \\family-computer<ENTER> test again..

First off, both computers are declared 'workgroup'. But I am not sure I understand the above. The Win 7 computer does have a name. It is 'Jacq-I5PC. Are you saying that I should enter the Win 7 computer name somewhere in the Win 7 network wizard set up?

 

[i386]

Re: Printer driver question

First off, both computers are declared 'workgroup'. But I am not sure I understand the above. The Win 7 computer does have a name. It is 'Jacq-I5PC. Are you saying that I should enter the Win 7 computer name somewhere in the Win 7 network wizard set up?

Looks like the name is ok. It just needs to be unique on the network.

Here's some more info...

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-7/share-files-and-printers-between-windows-7-and-xp/


A quick warning about the printer driver for shared printers if you make it that far. You must use the same driver type/version in Win7 as WinXP.

For example if you use a Laserjet 2100 PCL 5 driver in XP (XP Driver), you must use the Laserjet 2100 PCL 5 driver in Win7 (Win7 Driver).

The suck... Sometimes you won't have a Win7 version of what's on your XP box or vice-versa. In that case you have to install new drivers on both. Sometimes you have to use the HP Universal driver too. Whichever it is, just make sure it's the same type on each.

We are dealing with this exact same issue at work except our print server is sharing around 150 printers to XP clients and we need to get Win7 printing too.

I've probably made this about as clear as mud, but I'm getting sleepy...

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Printer driver question

.....A quick warning about the printer driver for shared printers if you make it that far....

Oh, now that gives me lots of confidence and hope!

I'll be reading that 'how to' very soon. Got to get thru my first cupojoe before I can take anymore of this MS BS!

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Printer driver question

Ok, I've have read the 'howto' and everything is set accordingly. I disabled the password business. I also shut of the firewall on the XP printer host but the Win 7 unit still does not see or display the XP unit.

There is an item in the 'network sharing' advanced settings that talks about encryption. It does not say to to anything with it. 128 bit encryption is selected. The other option is for 40-56 bit encryption. I do not know if this applies here. I'm not trying to share files anyway and I do not know if this item would keep the Win 7 unit from seeing the XP unit.

Also, my nephew in law set up the win 7 unit with zone alarm. I don't know if this is causing an issue or not. I opened ZoneAlarm to see if it had any options that allowed or disallowed for file and printer sharing. I could not discern any such settings but they might be couched in language I do not comprehend.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Printer driver question

commands=cmd rmtshare=printer share cmd..,prncnfg= printer configger cmd..., and prnmngr=printer management cmd.....use them in run/cmd

 

[dolluper]

Re: Printer driver question

Heres the ungeeky way ....with bonus pictures LOL's link below
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-7/share-files-and-printers-between-windows-7-and-xp/

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Printer driver question

Heres the ungeeky way ....with bonus pictures LOL's link below
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-7/share-files-and-printers-between-windows-7-and-xp/

Yeah dolluper, I have done everything in that link and the Win 7 unit still does not see any other units on the network.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Printer driver question

firewall turned off both machines....both rebooted after set up...named the same on both....permissions checked.....Win7 set as local printer or XP....has to have same name as local
) Share Permissions
1. On explorer, go to C:\windows\system32\spool\PRINTERS
2. Right click, Properties
3. Sharing tab
4. Advanced Sharing
5. Check "Share this folder"
6. Permissions
7. Grant everyone Full Control

2) NTFS Permissions
1. On explorer, go to C:\windows\system32\spool\printers
2. Right click, Properties
3. Security tab
4. Edit
5. Add
6. Advanced
7. Find Now
8. Choose "NETWORK"
9. OK
10. Grant NETWORK Full Control