Can't Print From Wireless Network

[Gus]

Hi:
I have a D-Link DI-524 wireless router and the host computer is a desktop system running windows XP. My client computer (a dell inspiron laptop) is also running windows XP. My network is WEP enabled and I am able to download my e-mail and have internet connectivity without any problem. I would like to be able to print on one of two printers I have physically connected via USB to the "Host" computer.
I have gone into the host and set up a network via the wizard and have enabled print and file sharing. I then went into the laptop and did likewise. I then tried printing to one of the printers (a Canon i960) from the laptop. No dice. Firstly, I don't believe the laptop sees the printers because no list is created in the "Printer List" and the system reports printer as being "Offline" whenever I attempt to print from the laptop. How do I go about getting the wireless network to see the printer? Have I done something wrong here? Please help. Thanks so much.

Gus:

[hypnotizeminds]

Gus, be sure on the "host" computer that the printer is directly connected to, the printer itself (listed in Start > Settings > Printers and Faxes) is shared. Enabling file and printer sharing doesn't automatically share the printers, you must right-click them and enable sharing via there settings. It seems like you have covered most everything else, but this is just something to double check.

[Gus]

Hi Gary:

Went to "Host" computer, right clicked on the printer and ensured that "Printer sharing" was enabled. Came up as "Printer6." When I went back to the laptop and tried once more, the "Printer List" still only shows "Microsoft Network" or whatever and does not list any printers. I manually typed in the "Printer6" name in the box and then tried printing again. Still no soap. Should the network not read any printers connected to the host, especially when the power is "ON"? It doesn't show the wireless network either if that's any help at all. Must be something else.


Gus:

[hypnotizeminds]

No wireless network, that's a good piece of information to have.

Describe in as much detail as you can your network setup from the modem to the wireless router, and how each computer and printer is connected and how the internet connection is shared.

[Gus]

Hi Gary:

Firstly, I followed the instructions as supplied with the DI-524 Wireless Router and after cycling the modem and router, pluged an ethernet cable from the modem to the routers WAN port. I then plugged another ethernet cable from the host computer to the #1 LAN port. I then configured the "Wireless" network as per instructions and when I ran into a brick wall, I utilized D-Link support who walked me through the configuration process. I went back to the well once again when I had a problem getting the WEP to work properly.
Once I had good connectivity on the laptop, I checked out "Shields UP" to verify my "Stealthing" on both computers etc. Passed no problem although at first I they were still able to read the "Ping". I fixed that by stealthing port 113. Since then no problem and I passed the stealth telst.
I then decided that, as I mentioned initially, I wanted to be able to print from my laptop over the wireless network (if possible) and so, I went into the "Host computer" and began by setting up a home network using the wizard. I enabled print and file sharing. I then went to the "Client" computer (laptop) and did likewise. After not being able to connect, I enabled "sharing" of printer (s) on the host computer and tried again with the same result. I then went to the "Client" computer (laptop) and enabled printer sharing there and tried again. I still could not either see the printer on the printer listing nor could I connect when I manually typed in the printer name as was given on the host (Printer6). The microsoft network bit comes up in the printer list but this is certainly not the wireless network name or network. When I try to print, the "Printer Offline (not connected) message comes up. I am beginning to become a little frustrated. This is where I presently sit.
Gus:

Gus:

[bAdWaYz]

Hiya Gus,

On the "client" computer have you gone to Start/Settings/Printers and faxes? If you don't see the printer listed that you wish to print from then 2xclick Add Printer. This will launch the add printer wiz. From there you just pick to browse for a printer on the network or attached to another computer. Follow the directions and add the printer. Once done you should be able to see and print from that printer.

[Gus]

Went there, did that and still the same old thing. The "Printer List" keeps coming up showing "Microsoft Windows Network" and does not list any printers whatsoever. When I manually put in the printer name (ie printer6) or whatever and attempt to connect, it simply comes up saying "printer offline". This seems to confirm that the wireless portion is not seeing the printers.


Gus:

[hypnotizeminds]

Are all of the computers on your network part of the MSHOME (or a custom) workgroup? In order to connect to a printer on a network system, I believe both systems must be part of the same workgroup if they want to share a printer, correct bAdWaYz?

When you search for network printers, you should see MSHOME (or a custom workgroup name that all network computers are a part of) in the list just below Microsoft Windows Network.

Try (keyword "try") on both the "host" computer and the computer you are trying to get to connect to the "host" to use it's printer, go to My Computer, right-click and select Properties. Then click Computer Name tab at the top and select Network ID. Connect to a business network without a domain and input MSHOME as the workgroup name. Reboot both machines.

[bAdWaYz]

Yes both computers would need to have the same workgroup name. I didn't ask if that was so because I assumed it had been covered already. Guess thats what I get for assuming stuff ehh. Also something to take note of is if one or the other computer is XP home and one is XP pro you may need to take steps to get the network to see both ways.

[Gus]

Hi:
Have tried all and made sure both read same workgroup. Both systems running XP pro so should be no issue there. I can get the client system (laptop) to where it sees MS Windows Network and expands to MSHOME workgroup and then shows the "Host" computers unique name but, it still does not show me any printers in the list. I have tried to connect to the supposedly "shared" printer (s) and each time the printer alert box comes up saying the printer is not online even though they are both turned on and ready to print. It's got me baffled, that's for sure.

Gus:

[bAdWaYz]

ok lets see what is going on under the hood here. On the "client" computer open a command line window and type net view see what comes up. Then type net share and see the output. Post in here the outpot of each command.

[Gus]

Hi:
Okay!, I think you're onto something. I opened a cmd window and typed in "Net View" and what I had returned was "System Error 53 Occurred". and "Network Path Not Found".

I then typed in "Net View" and the following was returned.

Share Name Resource Remark
D$ D:\ Default Share
Print$ C:\Windows\System32\Spool\drivers Printer Drivers
C$ C:\ Default Share
Admin$ C:\Windows Remote Admin
IPC$ Remote IPC
Shared Docs C:\Docs & Sets\All Users\Docs
Printer MS Documents IMA Spooled MS Office Doc IMg
Printer2 USB001 Spooled Canon MP730 Printer
Printer6 USB002 Spooled Canon i960

Command Completed Successfully.

Also, if I "Ping" each computer from the "Host" system, I have no loss of packets and both are fine. However, if I "Ping" from the "Client" system, the client packets sent and received with no loss but cannot ping the "Host" computer as packets sent are not received and 100% loss.

Looks as if there's a problem somewhere with the Network Path, huh?

Gus:

[bAdWaYz]

I opened a cmd window and typed in "Net View" and what I had returned was "System Error 53 Occurred". and "Network Path Not Found".

What computer gave you that output the client or the host? Looks like to me you are only getting comm one way host to client. The client computer can't ping the host and if the net view command doesn't work there is a problem on the client side.

[Gus]

Hi bAdWaYz:

It was the "Client" (laptop) computer that gave me these results. Where to from here?

Before you ask for this, here is what I get from the "Host" computer.
On "Net View" - I get "List of Servers for this WorkGroup is not currently available."
On "Net Share" - I get the following:

Share Name Resource Remark

E$ E:\ Default Share
C$ C:\ Default Share
IPC$ Remote IPC
D$ D:\ Default Share
print$ C:\Windows\System32\Spool\Drivers Printer Drivers
Admin$ C:\Windows Remote Admin
Shared Docs C: Docs & Sets\All Users\Docs

Canon MP730 USB002 Spooled Canon MP730 Printer
Canon i960 USB001 " Canon i960 Printer
Fine PRT5 FPR5 " Fine Print
Printer VCPT1 " VersaCheck Printer
Printer2 Snagit7 " Snagit 7
Printer3 PDF Camp1 " http:\\www.verypdf.com
Printer7 LPT1 " Broderbund PDF Convert
Printer8 My Documents\*pdf\spooled Creates Adobe pdf

The Command Completed Successfully -



Gus:

[z1p]

HI folks, I was just looking through this thread and thought of a couple of things to check. I hope you all don't mine my butting in.

It sounds like you may be having an issue resolving workgroup hostnames on the client machine.

Gus, you said you can't ping from the client by name. Have you tried pinging by IP?
What protocols do you have running on the two machines? (You sTCP/IPhould have at least TCP/IP, File & Printer sharing, client for MS networks)
Do have the 'Computer Browser' service running on both machines or just one of them?