SHOULD I be able to share a USB printer?

[35mph]

Got a pretty standard question:

Under normal circumstances, SHOULD I be able to share a USB printer?

Here are the details:

The USB printer is attached to a Win98 PC... works fine locally. It can be set up as shared...

However, I can't get to it from a Windows XP machine...

It appears that I have all (most?) of the settings done correctly: i.e. TCP/IP, file and printer sharing, NETBIOS, can ping back and forth... can ping by name and IP address

I'm just not sure if I'm shooting in the dark... SHOULD this work?

 

[ski]

It should work.

Are all firewalls disabled, including the one built into Win XP?

If so, then here's a tutorial which may be of help:

http://support.its.ied.edu.hk/stffaq/7.3.html

Also, here's a troubleshooting guide:

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/Sections-article64-page1.php

 

[tf1]

Some manufacturers fix it so that the drivers won't work across a network connection. Typically, bottom end Canon printers won't work using sharing across a network.

However, it you get a print server (such as a cheap D-Link), you can share the printer and it doesn't rely on a computer being turned on to print.

Regards: tf1

 

[starzwell]

You could always try to set it up locally to the Xp machine and see if you can get the 98 to find it. This might be easier just because the drivers are already there in the 98 and the XP might share better so to speak, but do turn off the firewall especially if your upgraded to the SP2.

Find your double click on my computer look for "my network places" then "network connections" and look under network tasks and change it to off.

 

[wcburton]

I was doing some searching on 98 sharing a printer to Win XP and found indications that it was very difficult if at all possible. It is most likely not the USB that is giving you the problem, it is the Windows 98.