Locating a network printer

[Shaman]

Here is the setup

Three printers are networked at my school. They weren’t a problem. A new printer and computer were connected to the network, and now I can’t connect to the other three printers. We are on the same workgroup. But ever since a new printer was added, I can’t connect to the old ones. The tech guy at school looked through stuff, but I can’t get anything to connect. The new printer was added through the TCP/IP port. Before that, I was able to connect via add a printer to all three other printers. I access the internet through a proxy that all school computers use, and I have my own port (for the line I am using). Again, I didn’t have a problem before the new printer/ new Vista computer were installed. As far as I know the three printers I didn’t have a problem with are still connecting to the older computer.

I tried connecting via the TCP/IP address of one of the printers, but it couldn’t be found.

Any suggestions on how to get access to the printers again?

 

[ConfederateTyrant]

Are you the only one who can't connect?

Make sure that how you have them installed using to the correct TCP/IP address. Since they added in another printer, it could have changed the IP address of the other printers.

 

[tmorris1]

Do you have compatible drivers for Vista?

 

[Shaman]

The new computer has the older printers put on with the same TCP/IP that I used. I can see my computer from the new computer, but I can't access it through the new one.

 

[ConfederateTyrant]

Just to verify, the Vista computer has the 4 printers attached to it? And then you connect through the Vista computer to get to those printers?

If so, Vista may be blocking you from accessing the network printers if you have to go through it that way. You may need to edit the Vista firewall to allow your machine's TCP/IP port to go through it.

 

[Shaman]

One computer is attached to a 2000 computer by USB, and the rest are connected by network.

 

[brianl703]

If you print a test page (by holding down the appropriate button on the printer itself), it will usually tell you what the IP address of the printer is. Perhaps it has been changed for some reason. Then double-check your settings on the computer to make sure you are using the correct IP address.

 

[Trucku]

If your on a workgroup. Have them re-share the printers. If you cant access the other computer and can see it, its a rights issue. Is the new computer using the same id and password as the old one?

 

[Trucku]

Check Vista's firewall and allow your network address.

 

[eljefino]

Is this a peer-to-peer networking setup or is there a host you login to?

IIRC, the "home" versions of windows only allow ~5 devices, so you could have recently been pushed over the limit.

Also let us know if you use the same IP everytime or if you (and the printer) are dynamically assigned them, and if it's local (192.168.x.x) or "real" and visible to the world.

 

[brianl703]

I get the impression that these are network printers where the ethernet cable plugs directly into the printer. There are not accessed through a workgroup or as a Windows printer share.

 

[obbop]

Sharing is a good thing.

 

[Shaman]

I got to work today, and they were working. The "handyman" at school must have worked his magic.