Sharing printers

[JayE]

Hi,

I am considering gradually moving our client PCs on our small NT network over to Windows XP (as they are replaced).

I have many queries, this is one of them:

Can a user without administrative rights share their printer?

Can others, running Windows 98, access a shared printer on a XP system which is left at the login prompt? This is critical as we have a shared printer and users are directed to log off the network when they're not using it, but obviously other team members may want to print to it.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,
Jay/UK

 

[lfcchamps]

In my best appinon u should try not to share printers from a computer over the network as this can slow the computer down plus u have the problem of making sure the computer's logged on. Have you thought about setting up your printer on a jet direct card and sharing it over the network from ur server. You can use hp jetadmin software to monitor the printer for you and as it is installed on the server you can set up all the relevent shares and permissons and policy groups for all the users, plus u don't have to worry about computers being logged in to print Hope this helps

 

[JayE]

Hi,

Thanks. I have considered that option, but am quite happy to use printer sharing which is straightforward and we have not experienced any problems with performance.

I just want to know if others can print whilst XP system is at login prompt (not actually logged in) as we can under Windows 98.

I await a reply.

Regards,
Jay/UK

 

[wolluf]

Yes you can print while XP at logon prompt. The share on the XP printer is system wide - not tied to particular user - so once its set up, as long as other users have permission to use it, it should always be available.
Note - XP has something called simplified sharing enabled by default - which allows 98 users to access shared resources without the issues you have with NT/2K shares (needing guest account enabled or user account on NT/2K machine with same id/password as use logs onto 98 machine with).

 

[JayE]

Hi,

Thanks very much.

In Windows 98, I click on tab called "Sharing" and specify what users have access to the printer (only a few users who sit near printer)

Please clarify, is this the same in XP?

Thanks.

Regards,
Jay/UK