I need your help people...

[Lau]

I am brand new to the forum... happy to be here, and most of all, hope that someone can help (I'm sure you can, my problem's really not hard, but I have NO IDEA!!!)

I have a printer (Compaq, huh... don't remember the rest) with USB port, connected tp my laptop. Now, boyfiend just got the crapiest desktop ever!! Anyway, I want to have the printer connected to both computers (told you it wasn't that hard!!)... How do I do that??? Can I just get a USB port spliter (does that even exists??) and that's it?
I've never done any kind of networking stuff (does that even apply?).

Anyway, don't be too harsh on me, please!! I want to learn... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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Don't know much, but is trying!!!

[borgdrone1of2]

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif hello
you most likely will have to net work the two computers to do this.is this temporary or permanent? if just a temporay net work you can just use a duble ended male parelell cable to conect the to to share printer and other files.i got one 15' feet long for $10.00cd.
so this might be an option to look into its the cheapest route.the other way youll need to both have the same type of net work cards to conect.
a whole book could be done here on this.but this is a start for you
happy april fools day

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resistance is invigorateing lol

[Rick]

I think your going to Find that .
The Compaq Printer (USB) is Not network able.
It will only work on the system it is connected to.

The easiest way to share the printer would be to install the drivers on the desk .
Then when needed Just unplug it from the laptop and plug it into the Desktop.

To make it easier you could install a USB hub onto the desktop system and place the hub on the desk near the printer.

[Lau]

Thank you...

Ok, I feel like I'm not going to go very far with this thing!! One of the computer doesn't have a network card, and I'm not buying that (unless somebody tells me I can have one for 10 bucks, which I dont' see happening).
I guess the spliter thing isn't such a great idea, is it?

Any other suggestion on how to do that? Call me stuborn, but I just though I could connect the printer to both computers w/o having to network anything... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

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Don't know much, but is trying!!!

[Lau]

Alright... Now I'm glad I won't have to buy a network card.
The hub... I think it's the spliter thing I was talking about... Sorry, don't know all the terminology!!

Thank you both Borgdrone and Rick, I guess I can be on my own for now. I'll scream if something blows up. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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Don't know much, but is trying!!!

[Paul Komski]

Guess everyone works in different ways but I would have thought that the easiest way of sharing the USB-printer is to just remove the USB plug from one PC and plug it into the other one when it is needed. Surely easier than networking the two pcs together - unless you want to share other stuff - or have them networked together over long periods. Using direct cable to network them would, I agree, seem much the cheapest way to go.

BTW; if one pc is not connected to the printer, you could choose to "Print to File" on it and save the file(s) (say on your desktop). Then when the pc is attached to the printer - just drag and drop those files onto the Printer to have them printed out.



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Take nice care of yourselves - Paul
"There are old pilots and bold pilots but there are no old bold pilots."

[kfh]

Way to go Paul,
Barman get that man a pint of Liffey water http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
kfh.


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Sequitur Patrem Non Passibus Aequis

[Steve]

I agree Paul. I thought that was what USB was all about. You don't even have to turn anything off, just hot swap the printer.

Liffey water? http://www.grillsportverein.de/smilies/contrib/sarge/Oogle_anim.gif

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Peace and Love, brothers and sisters. Peace and Love