Windows 10: Homegroup Printer Question

Hey guys. Trying to setup our home printer across a network. It worked fine in Windows 7 and it did work fine post upgrade but, following a clean install of Windows 10 it won't connect and brings up an error about how Unable to connect to Printer.

It's a HP Photosmart C4780. I think I've setup the Homegroup correctly. Set both PCs to share devices and I can see it via Settings when I try to add the device but I'm unsure what I am doing wrong. I'm fairly certain on windows 7 I didn't need to install the HP printer drivers and software. Do I have to allow it through my router or something? I've turned my firewall off but that don't help.

Any tips would be appreciated *Smile

:)

 

Windows 10: Cannot access printer in a home group

Had homegroup on laptop, W7 with a desktop w7 but now that my laptop has w10 cannot access my printer via a homegroup. Same question was asked by someone else recently.

Original Title: HOmegroup issue

 

Sharing of printer between system of two different operating systems in a Home network

Hi Piero,

I understand that you need to share the printers between two computers containing different operating system. I will certainly assist you.

Please answer the below question to assist you better.

Have you created a HomeGroup for the computer?

I suggest you to create a HomeGroup on the system (Windows 7) share the printer and then connect the printer to the system containing the Windows 10 operating system.

Follow the below link and refer the section on Create a homegroup Create a homegroup Create a homegroupCreate a HomeGroup, Add your other PCs to
the homegroup Add your other Pcs to the HomeGroup and Share Printers.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-IN/...o-finish=windows-7&v1h=win81tab3&v2h=win7tab2

For the system containing the Windows 10 operating system follow the below link and refer the sections on Add your other pcs to HomeGroup and Share a printer.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-IN/...-finish=windows-81&v1h=win81tab2&v2h=win7tab2

(Also Applies to Windows 10)

Hope this information is helpful regarding sharing of the printers. Please do let us know if you need further assistance, we’ll be glad to assist you.

 

How is the printer connected to the network? Is it connected by wire or wireless? IS it connected to one PC and then shared or is it connected directly to the network?

From Windows Explorer, type the following into the address bar: \\pcnamethatprinterisattached too and then hit enter. If the printer shows up after you hit enter, then the printer is shared correctly. Then all you will need to do is to double click the printer icon and it will install the printer for you. If it prompts you for a driver...then you will need to supply one or let it search automatically for one.

Hope this helps...

 

Thank you for the reply. Do I need to ensure that network discovery is on? I am trying to share it via Homegroup. I'm getting a bit confused as to what settings need to be enabled etc

 

It would help you if Network discovery is on. Just don't allow network discovery for "PUBLIC", only allow for private and home networks.

 

Many thanks. Pleased to report everything is fixed and can connect fine to Printer now. Thank you for your help!

 

One slight issue I've just noticed. As it is networked printer, it won't print while my Dads PC is off (where it is connected wired but can be switched on via the panel).

How do I set it so my Dads PC does not need to be on for me to print from it? Do I need to install the software/drivers etc on my PC too?

 

IF the printer is connected to a pc i.e. Dads pc, then Dads pc must be on at all times for everyone else to print. To make it able to print all the time whenever Dads pc is off, you will need to connect the "PRINTER" to the network either with a wire or wireless connection. This is a better solution because then anyone will be able to print and it won't matter if anyone else's pc is on or off.

Does your printer have the built in wireless? If so, just connect it to your wireless internet. If not, they do make USB print servers that can connect your printer to the network. Like this one:

Amazon.com: Monoprice Networking USB 2.0 Print Server (105342): Computers Accessories

Hope this helps.