Network hp7960 printer Win xp to Win ME?

[3putt]

Printer installs ok on the win xp PC. When trying to network
with the laptop running ME, the laptop sees the printer on the
networked PC, and thens asks for the cd disk. However, this
is where the problem begins. When following the install steps,
it cannot find certain files on the install disk, nor will it use the
installed files from the xp computer.

I've installed this printer on an xp pc and an xp laptop. It just
will not install as a networked printer between the laptop running
win ME and the PC running xp.

I did find step by step procedures on the following web site, but even
that doesn't work.

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

Any insight into this problem?

[Ben Myers]

Given that the Photosmart 7960 is a USB-only printer, I would guess that HP does
not want you to network it, and makes it difficult to do so. I've seen writeups
explaining how one can "force" a supposedly non-networked printer to be used
across a network, but only for older parallel port printers. I'm not sure I can
help with this one.

Did you install the printer on one or the other computer, then give it a share
name? If so, it may be possible to install it physically on the other computer,
move it back to where you want it to be (a desktop computer), then reconfigure
the printer's port by associating it with the share name seen across the
network. Don't ask me exactly how to do it. I'd have to tinker with it a bit
to figure it out. If it's at all possible, that is.

The latest HP inkjet printers are fully-bidirectional, using the data provided
from the printer to the computer to tell its status (out of paper, out of ink,
x% printed, etc). The bidirectional nature of the printer may get in the way.
If so, installing a more brain-damaged but compatible printer driver might work.

So in summary: You probably bought a printer HP does not want networked, and you
will probably have a difficult time getting it to work on the second computer.
If it does work, it may do far less than when connected directly to the other
printer. And HP didn't make it clear that the printer could not be networked
when you bought it. They rarely do? Did you ask at the retail outlet where you
bought it? Like the sales people know all this sort of stuff! Right... Ben
Myers

On Thu, 18 Dec 2003 00:07:46 GMT, "3putt" <3putt@lousygolf.com> wrote:
Printer installs ok on the win xp PC. When trying to networkwith the laptop running ME, the laptop sees the printer on thenetworked PC, and thens asks for the cd disk. However, thisis where the problem begins. When following the install steps,it cannot find certain files on the install disk, nor will it use theinstalled files from the xp computer.I've installed this printer on an xp pc and an xp laptop. It justwill not install as a networked printer between the laptop runningwin ME and the PC running xp.I did find step by step procedures on the following web site, but eventhat doesn't work.http://support.its.ied.edu.hk/stffaq/7.3.htmlAny insight into this problem?

[Ben Myers]

One more thing: According to the HP web site, the printer can be networked if
you attach it to a Jetdirect 175x, 310x, or 380x, and set it up accordingly.
These are external JetDirect boxes with a USB port to plug in your printer and a
10/100 Category 5 Ethernet port for the network side... Ben Myers

On Thu, 18 Dec 2003 00:07:46 GMT, "3putt" <3putt@lousygolf.com> wrote:
Printer installs ok on the win xp PC. When trying to networkwith the laptop running ME, the laptop sees the printer on thenetworked PC, and thens asks for the cd disk. However, thisis where the problem begins. When following the install steps,it cannot find certain files on the install disk, nor will it use theinstalled files from the xp computer.I've installed this printer on an xp pc and an xp laptop. It justwill not install as a networked printer between the laptop runningwin ME and the PC running xp.I did find step by step procedures on the following web site, but eventhat doesn't work.http://support.its.ied.edu.hk/stffaq/7.3.htmlAny insight into this problem?

[3putt]

Thanks for the input. I should have mentioned that the laptop
is wireless. I can successfully network the laptop "wireless"
with the pc using a cheapo lexmark printer. No software required
for installation on the laptop. XP recognizes the Lexmark and networks
it wirelessly to the laptop.

Repeating the exercise using the HP printer fails. The laptop requires the
HP CD to continue the installation, and that is where it craps out. The
only
way I can get it to work is to use the usb cable from the HP printer direct
to
the laptop, install the software, and it works. It just won't let me
install the software
to use the laptop to printer in a wireless mode.