connecting pc and laptop to printer

[telboy1938]

Can someone tell me the easiest way to connect my PC and my Laptop to the same printer please? At present my PC is connected to the HP 1315 printer and I need to connect my laptop to it as well. Both PC and laptop are connected via cables to my internet router. Thanks. P.S. I am only a novice so please answer in easy terms.

telboy1938 31/05/2007

[vehelpfulguy]

If you have your PC and laptop both connected to a router then you have small network.

I assume you can share folders and files between the PC and the laptop (if not, it is easy to do).

You can also share your printer between the PC and laptop.

Go into the Windows help and type "sharing a printer" or similar phrases and you should get instructions on how to do it. It is not difficult.

Note that if you do it this way then the PC to which the printer is attached MUST be switched on for the other PC to print to it.

The BEST way to do this is buy a printer that is already network enabled.

Then you can just plug it directly into the router the same as your PC and laptop are plugged into the router.

Both laptop and PC can then print to it, even if the other PC is switched off.

As an example, here is a network ready Epson printer

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx =3ZCY&CategorySelectedId=11113&PageMode=1&Navi gationKey=11113,41320000

[vehelpfulguy]

There are a few sites on the web that tell you how to do this. Not sure how up to date they are but they will certainly help.

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?article ID=1596

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/netwo rking/expert/honeycutt_july2.mspx

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/814005

[telboy1938]

Thanks to both of you...will give it a try...Telboy

[vehelpfulguy]

"Both of you" was the same person !

[telboy1938]

Sorry...Need to go to Specsavers eh?