Network Printer

Hi
I am using Avast 4.7 home edition on my desltop and laptop. When I try to set up a network printer, it all goes well until I try to communicate with it. I cannot print a test page and cannot view the cartridge contents icons. It will not print from Notepad or any other package. I can look at all my mapped network drives with no problems, it is only the printer that will not work. My daughter has a similar laptop with AVG antivirus and she has no problem with the same printer. Is there something In Avast that could be stopping it. My network is set up via my Inexq modem router and my desktop is running Win XP HE SP2 with the laptop running Win XP Pro SP2. All other firewall software is turned off on both machines. I cannot get the printer to work when it is wireless networked or wired.

Ian

Hi Ian. Welcome to the forum.

When you installed the printer on the laptop did you add it in Control Panel/Printers and Faxes or did you use the installation disk that came with the printer? If you did the former you might not have the drivers you need on the laptop.

Besides the problem with the printer can you otherwise access the other computer OK from the laptop (file sharing, etc)?

What firewall are you using?

Generally, network printer problems are due to IP settings. Are you using automatic (IP and DNS) or manual.
Do you know the gateway of this network? And the IP address and port of the printer?

avast should block (or even scan printer traffic, unless it is HTML), it is an antivirus… not a firewall.

File and printer sharing for Microsoft Windows XP allows you to share the contents of selected folders and locally attached printers with other computers on a home and small office network. File and printer sharing must first be enabled, and to share files you can use the Shared Documents folder, simple file sharing, or advanced file sharing. Once a folder or printer is shared, other users on the home network can connect to it using a variety of methods. This article describes how to create and connect to file and printer shares, the most common problems with file and printer sharing, and the set of tools used to troubleshoot file and printer sharing issues.

You can download:
Microsoft Home Network Guide
File and Printer Sharing with Microsoft Windows
Troubleshooting File and Printer Sharing in Microsoft Windows XP

But since he has file sharing across the network maybe the IP settings are OK. :slight_smile:

@Ian

When you installed the printer on the laptop with the CD did it appear to install fully or did the installation hang?

His IP settings, not the printer IP settings… You can reach the files but you can’t reach the printer.
I’ve done this last week to install a network printer ;D ::slight_smile: