Networking & wireless forum: Can't Print to Shared Printer

Also check to see how many documents are in queue on the desktop computer.

http://www.computing.net/answers/windows-xp/test-page-failed-to-print/170571.html

philbernie, many thanks for the suggestions.

The article at http://www.computing.net/answers/windows-xp/test-page-failed-to-print/170571.html gave real hope because the situation described there matches mine: My Desktop *is* running XP SP2 and my laptop *is* running XP SP3.

So as suggested in the reference: I deleted the drivers on both machines, downloaded the latest driver from Canon and re-installed on the Desktop. Then I set up the share. Still doesn't print. Sigh.

One User in the reference suggested that it could be "a user permission problem." In my case I'm the admin on both desktop and laptop, so presumably this would eliminate that problem. If not I confess that I don't know how to change the permissions on a printer.


You also suggested "Try adding the network printer again from the laptop's control panel, printer." I went to Control Panel/Printers and Faxes and picked "Add a Printer." Unfortunately I got the dreaded "Test page failed to print."

On the bright side I can display the ink cartridge levels on the printer, so the laptop *is* talking to the printer ("bidirectional support"). It's talking, but just not printing!

Any other ideas appreciated.

Resolved!

ALthough both PCs are running XP Pro, I used a technique that Vista folks have been using. It's counterintuitive, but of course this is Windows.

1. On the laptop, select: Control Panel/ Printers /Add Printer

2. Choose Add Local Printer. (Yes Local, NOT Network.) Uncheck the box marked "Automatically detect my PnP printer. Click Next

3. Select Create a New Port and leave the default in the drop down selection as Local Port. Click Next

4. Windows displays a small dialogue box asking a port name. Key in

\\Host name\printer name

Host name - is the name of the desktop eg User-judf5564 or Home etc.
Printer Name - is MP530 or OffcPrnt, etc.

Click OK


5. Windows will show a list of printer vendors and models. The list looks just like the Windows Add Hardware Dialog. Select your printer manufacturer and printer model from the list. My particular model wasn't shown so I clicked on Windows Update. After an interminable wait the list of models was updated. I chose the closest match and will update the driver later.

6. When offered, indicate that you want a test print.


Hopefully this will help someone else so they don't have to go through all the iterations that I tried.

Many thanks to Test, Queue and Philbernie.

Just wanted to say thank you for posting this fix. I have been running in circles for the exact same problem. Good T/S. Keep it up. I followed the directions to a "T" and it worked out perfect. Thanks again.

Hi, I have been experiencing the same problem of printing from my Laptop over a wireless network to a HP LaserJet 1020 which is attached to my Desktop computer. The main difference is that in my case, both computers have been upgraded to Windows 7. I tried the solution with a couple of twists from their XP to my Windows 7. When I tried to print, I can see the document via the 'See Whats Printing' go to the Printer, it Spools then Prints, but doesn't.
Meanwhile on the Desktop computer in the 'See Whats Printing' box for the attached LaserJet, the Document Name shows as 'Remote Downlevel Document' Status - 'Printing' but again nothing prints. This has caused a great deal of frustration. I have been searching for answers for days. Any help would be appreciated.

Hi Fishing guy,

I really hope you are still around...I am having this exact same problem. Using two systems (1) 64bit windows 7 desktop (sharing the printer) and (1) laptop 32bit windows 7. Exact same printer as you and exact same issues! Did you find a fix? It is driving me crazy and I just cannot let it beat me. I was able to share the printer fine before I updgraded my laptop to from vista to win 7. PLEASE help! Your post is the fis=rst I have seen with my exact same issue. Most are from 7 to XP not 7 to 7.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

YES! I tried this approach, and it works just as described!

I have Windows 7 (64 bit), and want to connect to
a shared HP LaserJet P2015d on a Windows XP (32 bit),
and had a hard time even to talk to the right people in HP.

I am not sure the approach described here will work, but I tried
anyway. It works!

Thanks!

ChineseDubbed

A really big bump to the thanks for this post.

Thank you posting this fix. I got a new desktop computer and couldn't get my laptop to print using the printer attached to it. It was the same printer that I had no program using before. This worked. Thanks again.