How do you hook up 2 printers to one computer?

[james t kirk]

I'm getting a second printer to be able to print ledger sized paper.

I have 2 computers (one desktop and one laptop) and 2 printers.

I would like both computers hooked up to both printers. When printing, just select the printer you want and away you go.

Is this possible (other than plugging in and plugging out USB cables)?

 

[samcan]

Hook 1 to each computer then setting up a share of the printers
That way it doesnt matter which computer your on, you can choose the printer. By the way what OS are you running? Vista is a little tricker to set up sharing.

 

[james t kirk]

I'm running Vista.

So, if I hook one printer to each computer, then I must hook the two computers up somehow?

Do I need to load the software for each printer on each computer?

 

[Duff]

I bought a couple of wireless print servers from tigerdirect.ca (hxxp://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3187744&CatId=371) and that way any laptop in the house can access them without needing to have a computer on each printer and on all the time so either can access them.

 

[samcan]

Yes, wireless print servers are the easiest, but not cost effiecent. Remember he has 2 printers and 2 computers, just network them. If your 2 lazy to turn the one on you want to print
to, oh well. Just trying to save the guy some cash in these tough economic times.
His choice.

 

[james t kirk]

How do you network two computers?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Your two computers are probably already on a network since they likely share access to the internet on either a wireless or wired broadband router.
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3350639&CatId=198

http://www.ehow.com/how_108552_network-computers.html



Since you have 2 computers looks like you'll need a print server like others suggest.

Go to TigerDirect store explain your situation to them and they'll tell you what to do. They have a million fascinating gadgets there and the staff is pretty good too.

Just a guess but assuming you have a wired router and that both of your printers are USB printers you can get something like this:

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2974622&CatId=206

and then from the other end of the print server feed it into a hub so that you can split into 2 different paths, one for each printer.

 

[bsi]

I myself use the DLink 323 as both network storage and a print server but your situation is still easy. Unless the laptop is a work machine with domains and stuff in which case I can't help you.

1) Hook both printers up to the desktop. You probably have enough USB ports. If not, get a USB 2.0 powered hub for about $20.

2) Share the printers from the desktop computer.

3) At this stage, both printers are visible and usable on the desktop.

4) Make sure the laptop and desktop have the same workgroup. In WinXP, this is a) my computer, b) right click, c) properties d) Computer name, e) to rename a computer or join a workgroup, and give it something other than the default of MSHOME or WORKGROUP. Do this for both laptop and desktop. They should be the same.

5) You should now be able to see shared resources from either machine.

6) From the laptop, add a printer. I think you will see the desktop as a server and when you click it, it will open up and show you the two printers as well. Install both of them.

7) By the way, you should also share some of the desktop hard drive space to back up your laptop data. Laptops are much more likely to break or go missing than desktops.

Lastly, I have bought only networkable printers (those with an ethernet connection built right in) for the last couple of years. They connect to your router or switch rather than any one computer. They are trickier to set up but once they are, they are independent of which computers are on.

Have fun.

 

[james t kirk]

I have a Bell Wireless Modem - 10 meg service.

The desktop is hard wired to the modem, the laptop uses its wireless modem to connect to the Bell wireless Modem.

So, I have Desktop and Laptop. Both are running Window Vista.

The first Printer is an HP OfficeJet Pro L7580

The second Printer in an HP M5035mfp which arrives today.

 

[Sasha Jones]

Just plug both printers into the desktop and set up file and print sharing and you should be good to go.
But remember if you need to print from the laptop you need to have the desktop running.

We got a wireless router (d-link dir655) that has a UBS port and we install the shareport utility on all the computers and plug the printers into the router. Works with virtually any usb device as your computer essentially sees it as being directly hooked up.