printer sharing

i have set up my network a bit funny as i said so in the my other thread
i have a printer plugged into a USB on downstairs computer but i want it to work on upstairs computer.

i have gone on RUN and typed \\COMPUTERNAME.
i then clicked on the printer and it said that it installed. when i try to print it comes up with an error message

downstairs: windows 2000 pro

upstairs: windows xp pro

thanks

You need to have file & printer sharing allowed on the computer with the printer.

On the computer with the printer attached, you need to open the printer settings and share the printer

On the other computer go into add printer and add the network printer.

Since you have 2 different OSes, you may have a few more problems. When I have shared a printer from 2000 to XP, I've always had problems with drivers. Firstly, you need to share the printer in 2000 (right-click the printer name, click properties and select the sharing tab).

Then in XP, open up the printers and faxes page, and click Add a printer. Click Next and then select a local printer (un-tick the option to automatically detect). Then, on the next page, select create a new port and select local port. In the next window, enter the port name of \\computername\printer_share_name. After this, you get the option of installing XP drivers, not the ones that Windows 2000 is sharing.

thanks

my printer is working now