Larry, There are so many permutations of the way these network things work and how they work together, that it is foolish to predict what you absolutely have to do.
In my own experience, I have always been able to install a printer from any computer on a network, presuming the typical home ethernet setup. And, I have learned to install the printer separately on each computer on a network, IF the printer hooks directly to the router, which Jerry's apparently does. That way, everyone else is not dependent on a certain computer being on and acting as a server. Now, in my experience: The cable modem is irrelevant. It has nothing to do with the printer unless you are making the printer accessible over the internet (a really bad idea). I have never used a router that needs programming TO a printer. The router should see the wireless printer the same as it sees a computer, UNLESS Sam has the router set up with any of a number of screens or passwords, in which case you will need the documentation for the router and then you access it through Netscape or Internet Explorer and make any adjustments (unlikely), or you have to program the printer TO the router (most probable). Check with Sam, or see if Jerry had to key in a password or a lengthy number to access Sam's router. Presuming this is a new printer, the documentation should be with it, and that is a better place to go for how to install it than a discussion group on the internet. That documentation SHOULD tell you exactly how to initially connect to the router, whether wireless or by cable (haven't done a wireless printer in a while, and don't recall, and have never done a HP). Typically, the documentation will tell you if the printer needs any setup to do the proper handshaking with the router. If so, it can usually be done from the control panel on the printer. Get that done, set the printer up where you physically want it and that is finished. You SHOULD not have to use Sam's computer at all, unless he has set up some sort of administrator control over the router (unlikely). Now, take the HP installation CD and use it in Jerry's computer to install the printer. Test it. You SHOULD be done. Once again, there are several hair pulling possibilities here, mostly dependent on which brand of router Sam has, and how he has it set up (or worse, how the cable company set it up, if they are the ones who installed it, in which case this is a whole new ball game), but if no one did something screwy, it should be straight forward and take only a few minutes. Let me suggest again, that if all goes well, you should manually set the printer IP address to a high number on the last digit (the documentation will explain how to do that), then lock the same IP printer address in the software on Jerry's computer. Otherwise, on many ethernet setups, the IP number can "float" and the computer may have trouble finding it. The part of the software you install on Jerry's computer may not work as advertised in discovering the printer when the IP gets changed. My experience suggests locking that address. You are not trying to do anything unusual here. This is just a typical network which happens to have more than one printer. I am using a similar LAN right now. Good luck, Mike > Maybe it would help if I put names with the two neighbors so it is clearer. > Jerry has the laptop that has WiFi and a printer that is also capable of being > wireless. Jerry does not have a router and has connected to Sam's router (with > permission) and does go on the internet just fine. Now Jerry wants to also go > to his printer thru the router. Sam will not use Jerry's printer as he has his > own. > I think this is all possible but am not sure how to program the Sam's router > to Jerry's printer. I think it would be done by taking the printer to Sam's > house using an Ethernet cable and then (here is where I am not sure.) load the > printer software on Sam's computer so it can set the router up? After that is > done can we then remove Jerry's printer software from Sam's computer? (also > does Sam's cable modem play a role in this setup? > Thanks > Larry ============= PCWorks Mailing List ================= Don't see your post? Check our posting guidelines & make sure you've followed proper posting procedures, http://pcworkers.com/rules.htm Contact list owner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Unsubscribing and other changes: http://pcworkers.com =====================================================
