The easiest way to share a printer in your home is to get a Wi-Fi printer and get it linked up to the network. If this is not an option, your second best is through a host computer and your homegroup. Your host computer must have the printer installed, shared, and networked through your router. The kicker is the host computer must remain powered on at all times for the printer to be accessible. Some routers have USB connectivity to share a printer or other hardware. See your documentation for instructions with that.
Homegroup / Workgroup:
The MS homegroup is new to windows 7 and not compatible with XP. So, make sure all of your windows XP computers are on the same workgroup. By default it's named "workgroup". Check your windows 7 machine by going to control panel > system and security > system > advanced system settings > computer name tab. Whatever your workgroup name is, make it the same on XP and W7 computers alike. In XP go to start menu > control panel > performance and maintenance > system > computer name tab.
Homegroup is usually setup when you first power up your new windows 7 machine. But chances are, like myself you didn't write down the password. To find it go to your task bar on the bottom right. Find either your wired, or wireless connection and right click the icon and open network and sharing center > homegroup > view or print the homegroup password. Write it down or print it as you prefer. The password IS case sensitive. To join a homegroup > choose homegroup and sharing options. All of your W7 computers should be on the same homegroup. Make sure your host computer has printer checked as shared in the homegroup window. Under Network and Sharing Center, on the host computer, advanced sharing settings, network discovery, file and printer sharing, and public folder sharing must be turned on. (See pic above) You can password protect this in the same window. If it's not visible check the public ^ arrow to locate. Note: Homegroup is difficult to access if your home (router) network is properly password protected. Unless you are worried about ur kids accessing sensitive files, it's easiest to keep this unencrypted
Sharing the printer
Windows 7:
Now that your sharing options are correctly set it's time to share the printer itself. Go to "devices and printers" under your start menu. Locate the printer you wish to share. Double click it then customize your printer > the sharing tab > change sharing options and make sure "share this printer and "render print jobs on client computers" are both checked.
It's a good idea to click "additional drivers" and make sure x86 and x64 are both selected. Itanium is optional based on specific Intel processors. It doesn't take very much additional space so check it if your unsure.
Windows XP
Start menu > control panel > printers and other hardware > printers and faxes > sharing tab > On the sharing tab check "share this printer" This time additional drivers is up to you depending on how backwards compatible you need it to be. Check all that apply.
My apologies I don't have a working XP machine to take screen shots from. I'm sure a quick google search will help you if your stuck.
At this point you are going to want to shut down all computers on your network for a full power cycle. Though I recommend a full 3 minutes not 30 seconds.
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Koby
