Staff FAQ

  • FAQ: Printing

    • 2. How to do printer sharing on Windows 98 and Windows XP?

    The File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks component allows other computers on a network to access resources on your computer by using a Microsoft network.

    Here are some scenarios for different platforms.
    Printer share out on Windows 98 (Host)
      You must have "File and Printer Sharing" enabled before doing any sharing procedures.
    • Click "Start" -> "Settings" -> "Printers"
    • Then right click the printer icon that you want to share out and choose "Sharing"
    • Choose the option "Shared As:" then type in the Share Name: and Password respectively.

    • Then there will be a hand appear under the printer icon .

      A. Connect from Windows 98 (Client side)
      • Click "Start" -> "Settings" -> "Printers"
      • Double click "Add Printer"
      • Select "Network Printer" when prompt
      • Then input the path for the shared printer like \\computer_name\printer or using the browse function to locate the share printer.

      • Follow the instructions to complete the setup.
      • When you do a print, it will prompt for a password. Enter the password and click the "Save this password in your password list" if you don't want to enter it next time.



      B. Connect from Windows XP (Client side)
      • Click "Start" -> "Settings" -> "Printers and Faxes"
      • Double click "Add Printer"
      • Select "A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer" when prompt
      • Then input the path for the shared printer like \\computer_name\printer or using the browse function to locate the share printer.

      • Follow the instructions to complete the setup.
      • Click "Start" -> "Programs" -> "Accessories" -> "command prompt" and type the command below.
          net use \\computer_name\printer password /persistent:yes

          Replace computer_name with the computer name of the Windows 98-based computer that is sharing the printer, replace printer with the name of the printer share, and replace password with the password for the printer share.



    Printer share out on Windows XP (Host) - Simple Sharing (without password)
    • Click "Start" -> "Settings" -> "Printers and Faxes"
    • Then right click the printer icon that you want to share out and choose "Sharing..."
    • Choose the option "Share this printer" and type in the Share Name in the text box.

    • Then there will be a hand appear under the printer icon .

      A. Connect from Windows 98 (Client side)
      • Click "Start" -> "Settings" -> "Printers"
      • Double click "Add Printer"
      • Select "Network Printer" when prompt
      • Then input the path for the shared printer like \\computer_name\printer or using the browse function to locate the share printer.

      • Follow the instructions to complete the setup.


      B. Connect from Windows XP (Client side)
      • Click "Start" -> "Settings" -> "Printers and Faxes"
      • Double click "Add Printer"
      • Select "A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer" when prompt
      • Then input the path for the shared printer like \\computer_name\printer or using the browse function to locate the share printer.

      • Follow the instructions to complete the setup.



    Printer share out on Windows XP (Host) - Access Control List (with user password)
      For using Access Control List, you must disable Simple File Sharing first.
    • Click "Start" -> "Settings" -> "Printers and Faxes"
    • Then right click the printer icon that you want to share out and choose "Sharing..."
    • Choose the option "Share this printer" and type in the Share Name in the text box.

    • Then change to the "Security" tab.

    • Click the "Add" button to define the users that can access this folder.
    • From the "Select Users or Groups" windows click "Advanced".

    • Click "Find Now" to show all the user account exist on your PC. Then highlight the user and click the "OK" button to add the user in the list.

      (If you didn't create any user on your Windows XP before, you can refer to "How to create user account in Windows XP?".)
      Note: The user account created in Windows XP must be the same user name with the client PC
    • Then highlight the "Everyone" group and click "Remove". ("Everyone" group must be removed as it will allow "guest" to access this folder).
    • Now you can adjust the "Allow" and "Deny" access right for this user.
    • Press "OK" to confirm this operation.
    • Then there will be a hand appear under the printer icon .

      A. Connect from Windows 98 (Client side)
        You must logon the windows using a account which is exist in the Windows XP ACL.
      • Click "Start" -> "Settings" -> "Printers"
      • Double click "Add Printer"
      • Select "Network Printer" when prompt
      • Then input the path for the shared printer like \\computer_name\printer or using the browse function to locate the share printer.

      • Follow the instructions to complete the setup.


      B. Connect from Windows XP (Client side)
        You must logon the windows using a account which is exist in the Windows XP ACL.
      • Click "Start" -> "Settings" -> "Printers and Faxes"
      • Double click "Add Printer"
      • Select "A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer" when prompt
      • Then input the path for the shared printer like \\computer_name\printer or using the browse function to locate the share printer.

      • Follow the instructions to complete the setup.



    Note: Even the Simple sharing is easy to use but it is more risky to be attacked by virus or hackers with the use of Simple sharing in Windows XP to share out the printer than using Access Control List (ACL).

    - Updated: 26 June 2003