Step 1 : Add the computers to a workgroup

HOW TO SHARE A PRINTER ONLINE ?

  

Let say you have a pc in your room without printer and a pc in your office with printer. In this

case, you need to share the printer online. Lets name the pc’s as follows. Your pc in your room – room pc / Pc in your office – office pc

Step 1 : Add the computers to a workgroup

  To specify a computer's workgroup in Windows XP operating system: 1.

  Click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click System. If you don't see a System icon, click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System.

  2. Click the Computer Name tab.

  

3. Click Change, and then in the Workgroup box, enter the name of the workgroup you want to join or

create.

Naming conventions are important to keep in mind when you set up or add computers to workgroups. A

workgroup name must be:

• • The same for all computers in the workgroup
>• Different from any computer name in the workgroup Computer names, meanwhile, must be unique:
• • No other computer in the workgroup can have the same name

Configuration : Office pc

  There are two types of shared printers:

  

Network printers are connected directly to a network, usually to a device called a print server rather

• than to a particular computer.

  

Local printers, which you're more likely to use, are attached to a single computer on a network. By

• setting up printer sharing, you can share a local printer with the other computers on the network.

  After you have added a computer to a workgroup, you can share any printers that are connected to it. To share a printer, open the Printers control panel by clicking Start, pointing to Settings (or Control Panel) and then clicking Printers (or Printers and Faxes). Select the printer you want to share and on the File menu, click Sharing, or click Properties and then click the Sharing tab. In the Sharing dialog box, choose to share or not to share the printer. You can also share new printers that you install on any of your networked computers. If the Add Printer Wizard detects that your computer is on a network, the wizard will give you the option to share the printer when you install it. If you cannot access the Sharing option, or if you see a message stating that file and printer sharing is not turned on, you must enable the File and Printer Sharing component in Windows. In Windows XP you can do that through the Properties page for your network connection. In other Windows operating systems, you can use the network control panel.

  Here are some other things to know about sharing printers:

  

Naming a shared printer. When you choose to share a printer, you'll assign it a name in the Sharing

• dialog box to identify it to the entire workgroup. The name should be different from any other device name in the workgroup, and should not be the same as the workgroup name. Use a name that helps you easily identify it, such as the location or brand and model.

  

Setting up other computers to use a shared printer. To use a shared printer, each computer must

  Microsoft Windows XP makes it easy to configure your computer for home networking. The Network Setup Wizard walks you through the process, asking you for information one item at a time. After you add your computer to your home network, you'll be able to print to a printer on your home network (the printer will no longer need to be attached directly to your computer), and to access the other computers and devices connected to your home network. You'll be able to share files, which means you can get data from any computer you connect to the network. You can even share one Internet connection among all your computers.

  Before you set up your computer for home networking, make sure you have: Contacted an Internet service provider (ISP) to acquire an Internet connection to your home. For more

• information, read
• Installed a network adapter— in your computer.

  

To use the Network Setup Wizard to set up your computer for home networking, follow these

steps on each computer in your home network

  1.

  2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

  4. Under or pick a Control Panel icon, click Network Setup Wizard.

  5. The Network Setup Wizard starts. On the Welcome page, click Next.

  6. On the Before you continue page, click Next.

  7. If the wizard informs you that it has found disconnected hardware, make sure your network adapter is connected as described in It's okay to have a disconnected network adapter if you're using a wireless network connection or if you connect to the network using a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable. If you're sure everything has already been properly connected, select

  

Ignore disconnected network hardware. Otherwise, connect your network cables, and leave the

  8. If you connect your computer directly to the modem provided by your ISP, click This computer

  

connects directly to the Internet. If you connect your computer to a router, click This computer

connects to the Internet through a residential gateway. If you're not sure, leave the default

  setting. Then click Next.

  9. If the Select your Internet connection page appears, click Next.

  10. On the Give this computer a description and name page, type a computer description (such as "Kid's Computer") and computer name (such as "Desktop"). Click Next.

  11. On the Name your network page, type Workgroup. Then click Next.

  12. If you have files or a printer that you want to share with other computers on your home network, select Turn on file and printer sharing. Otherwise, leave Turn off file and printer sharing selected. Then click Next.

  13. On the Ready to apply network settings page, click Next.

  14. The Network Setup Wizard sets up your computer. On the You're almost done page, click Just finish the wizard. Then click Next.

  15. On the Completing the Network Setup Wizard page, click Finish.

  16. When prompted to restart your computer, save any open files, and then click Yes.