USB to desktop and laptop

[jeepnut]

I've always been a desktop owner until recently I just bought a laptop, so now I have both. I want to be able to use my printer for my laptop as well as my desktop (not wireless) So my question is can I plug my laptop into a USB port on my desktop from a USB port on my laptop to use the printer? The software for my printer is also installed on my laptop as well. :confused:

[jlreich]

Never do that. There is power going over USB and you could blow both your systems.

I take it you have a router?

You enable file and print sharing on both systems, share your printer on the desktop, point the laptop to the printer on your desktop and it will print through your desktop.

Here (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=wti&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=share+printer+xp&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=) you can find many different results for doing it on XP, but it will be slightly different for vista and 7. Just change the search term to vista/7 as needed.

[Cuc Tu]

If you don't mind spending a little money, you could also buy a print server and connect the printer to the router. I think you can do this wirelessly or wired to the router - and that way the desktop would not need to be turned on...

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=387&name=Network-Print-Servers&Order=PRICE