XP Home printer sharing

Hello,
I have a networking issue. I have 2 pc's, PC1 & PC2.
I have a printer that has a single USB connection, B type. I have a USB hub, PC1 has the first port (b type) and have the printer hooked into the next port. I have another cable running to PC2 (A type). PC1 has software loaded and can print fine. I have tried to add the printer to PC2 and it is asking for an IP address.

WHAT I HAVE DONE
I went to the Lexmark tech support and the only thing they have is a KB article about XP service pack 2. I have, for the heck of it, followed the instructions in that article. It suggests to go into network properties and add the TCP 135 and TCP 137 ports and to make sure that ICF is disabled. After doing all of that still nothing.

I have search the forums for help on this but those usally refer to machines with routers etc.

Any help would be apprerciated.

Regards

On the second PC, have you tried going to the add printer wizard and selecting network printer? You should be able to type the address as \\computername\printername and it should then set it up for you. Have you made sure that it is shared on the first computer?

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Yes have set up the share for the printer....but when I go thru the wizard it asks for an IP address........can I just over ride that with \\computername\printername ???

Thanks

You shouldn't have to enter an IP address.

Go to Printers and Faxes.

Click Add a printer.

Click Next.

Select "A network printer..." and click Next.

Select "Connect to this printer..." (the second option) and enter \\computername\printername.

That should get it working fine.

Another approach to edwinbrains solution would be to click:
start -> run and put in:
\\computername and hit <Enter> (without the printer name)

If your PC can see the other machine and recognize it by PC name, it should bring up a window that shows the available "shares" on the other PC. From there, you SHOULD be able to see the shared printer. Right-Click on it and click "connect".

This approach helps narrow down where the issue might be somewhat:

- If you type the \\computername and you can't connect, then you are having a problem seeig the other machine in general.
- If you can connect to the other machine but do not see the printer listed in the avilable shares, then there is an issue with the sharing of the printer.

Same idea, just a little different approach... Hope it helps...

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Thasnks.....got the printer to work.....but now the Print Spooler service will not work.........keeps shutting down....even though settings are Auto and restart for all 3 recovory settings.......for some reason it keeps trying to connect to a printer that no longer not exists and is not on the system anymore........I sent the error report to Microsoft but not sure when I'll hear back......

Thanks for your help........