About Jeffrey Wrobel Expertise I can provide assistance in the sometimes confusing area of networking Macs. The Macs
make networking easy, however, the large number of variables introduced by any network
solution can be difficult.
Experience I have over 20 years experience with Macs and their connectivity. I own my own consulting firm that specializes in network communication, Macs, and Mac-PC hybrid networks.
Organizations Certified Apple Developer
Education/Credentials UMASS Dartmouth, 4 years, Philosophy Major, Psychology Minor
Advanced computer theory, video technology, and encryption
Past/Present Clients I have a great many clients, all through word of mouth recommendation. These clients include celebrities, film makers, college professors, and physicians, but most are folks that love their Macs and need to keep them running their best.
Question QUESTION: How can I share my printer with my Windows Vista PC (connected to the printer) and a Mac Book? I have the printer on my computer in my office. My Mac Book in the living room without a printer. I use a wireless router (without a USB port) to connect to the internet. I want to be able to print from the Mac to the printer on the PC. I found many places on the web which describe how to do this. I am not really able to follow them because I cant find some of the options that they say I should see. I have enabled sharing and renamed my printer on my PC. The Mac is unable to find it. I tried to select "windows printing" on the printer browser on the Mac but there was not an option for that. What other information do you need? What can I do?
ANSWER: Dear Evan,
As usual, Windows doesn't comply with any "standards," instead choosing to make its own protocols, making it hard for anyone running anything but Windows to network with it. Vista is an abomination and is borderline unusable. I tell folks to get the Windows XP "downgrade" to make things a bit easier. In lieu of that, let's see if we can get you up and running with Vista:
1. Open Network and Sharing Center by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Network and Internet, and then clicking Network and Sharing Center.
2. Click the arrow button next to Printer sharing to expand the section, click Turn on printer sharing, and then click Apply. Your printer is now shared on the network. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
3. Click the arrow button next to Password protected sharing to expand this section, and then check to see if password-protected sharing is turned on or off. If it is turned on, turn it off and enter your user name and password if it asks for it. Click APPLY.
If you haven't changed your workgroup in Vista (which you probably haven't because it is in your home office), then you should be all set because Vista uses "WORKGROUP" as its workgroup name and Mac assigns the same name by default.
Now, go to the Apple in the upper left corner of your MacBook's screen and select System Preferences. Open the PRINT AND FAX section and click on the PLUS (+) sign under the left box. A window will appear with icons along the top. Select WINDOWS PRINTING (or just Windows).
Click the WORKGROUP in the first column and look for your PC to show up in the second column. When it does, select it, then look to the third column for the printer. Choose the printer and then down below select either the Generic Postscript Driver or choose the driver by name from the list of drivers. During this process, you might be asked for your name and password. Enter your Windows User name and password if necessary.
You should be all set. If not, go back over the list above and make sure you did everything that was required. I'm sorry it is so confusing, but it is very difficult to explain anything to do with Windows in clear terms. Macs, with Leopard, are now much more seamlessly compatible with Windows so the setup can be complicated on the Mac side now too!
If you have any further trouble, write back and I will get right back to you, okay Evan? Thanks and good luck!
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Wrobel
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you for your reply.
I have done everything you have indicated thus far ... except for this paragraph ------
Now, go to the Apple in the upper left corner of your MacBook's screen and select System Preferences. Open the PRINT AND FAX section and click on the PLUS (+) sign under the left box. A window will appear with icons along the top. Select WINDOWS PRINTING (or just Windows).
-----
The reason I have not done this is becasue there is no option for me to select Windows Printing ... or even just Windows. Do I need to install something?
Thanks,
Evan
Answer Dear Evan,
Are you using 10.5 Leopard? If so, when you click on the + sign in the Printers and Fax section of the System Preferences, you should see a window with icons along the top inside of the window. If you don't see them, let me know. If you see some, but not Windows, tell me that, too. I will get you through this step by step until we get this bugger working. 10.5 can be a bit weird at times, but it usually is very straightforward.
