Sharing a Printer / Windows 7 / Norton 360 5

Norton Security | Norton Internet Security
1

I am trying to share a printer.   It is a USB plug in on my PC.

 

We have set up a homegroup network.

 

We can log in and see and each others files, and the printer.

 

The printer properties are set to be shared.

 

I read here about the network and Norton: 

 

http://community.norton.com/t5/Norton-360/My-Norton-360-is-preventing-printer-sharing/m-p/415502#M43134

 

I cannot find the IP address for my printer to try what the above link suggests.

 

When I look on the My Net Work and Network Security Map on Norton, my printer is not is not listed.   (Yet it is on Windows).

 

Any thoughts on finding the Ip address (and it is not on the ports tab, and I cannot click on configure port).

 

Thanks.

 

 

2

Since your printer is plugged into your PC via USB rather than plugged into your network via Ethernet cable, it does not have an IP address; it is not a network device.

 

For other PCs to connect to your printer, they will have to do so via your PC's (the one with the USB printer attached) computer name or IP address.  If that isn't displayed, open Command Prompt, enter ipconfig at that PC.

 

Note that this may require a different set of instructions; I'm not sure.  (I only have a network printer and I didn't have to do anything to make it work.)

 

Are you certain you can't print to the printer from another PC?  (you said you can see the printer; I can't imagine why it wouldn't already be working)

3

Thanks.. at least I understand about the IP address a bit more.   The printer, on the eg. laptop says the printer is offline.  I've tried everything (including the properties - work offline tick).   I can print to the printer from the desktop no problems.  My guess was that Norton was blocking it.

 

4

If you have set up file and printer sharing properly, you should be able to find the printer in your "Devices."  It will be visible, but you will only be able to print to it if the computer tht it is plugged into is turned on.  I have the same setup.  Both computers must be visible to each other in the Norton security maps and the trust should be shared, or full trust. 

5

I have sometimes found it necessary to run the full printer installation (from CD or download) on the remote computer to get it to work--i.e., the driver that Windows loads automatically when you add the printer doesn't seem to always do the job.

 

You might try that, just to help us localize the problem.

6

Good point DistEd2.  I forgot about that.  The laptop will need the required drivers.

7

wn,

 

Are all the computers on the home network using Windows 7 or is there a mix? If there's a mix sometimes they don't play together nicely especially if you use the default Windows 7 Homegroup network which has special characteristics ... many people I know prefer to set up a network from scratch and eg calling it Workgroup which used to be the default for Windows.

 

Does the printer have to be plugged into the laptop which seems, by definition, to be a portable device that might not be there when someone on the network wants to print and it isn't?

 

If the printer has a network connection built in -- as I know some HP (and surely other makes but I know HP better) do -- and your home network uses a router it could be better to connect the printer directly to the router (wired or wireless depending on the printer) so that any computer on the network could use it without requjiring another PC to be connected and on?

 

Just some thoughts.