Printer cannot communicate with computers over peer-to-peer network

These are possible solutions. Try one or more of the following:

Make sure:

• The host computer is on and is directly connected to the printer.

• The host computer can print to the printer.

• The printer is shown as Shared in the Printer folder on Windows Vista, or the Printers and Faxes folder in Windows XP, or the Printers folder in Windows 2000 on the host computer.

Windows Vista users:

1. Click   Control Panel  Printer (under Hardware and Sound).

2. Right-click the icon for your printer.

3. Click Sharing.

4. Click Change Sharing Options, and confirm the Windows prompt.

5. Select Share this printer, and then give the printer a distinctive name.

6. Click OK.

Windows XP users:

1. Click Start  Settings  Printers and Faxes.

2. Right-click the icon for your printer.

3. Click Sharing.

4. Select Share this printer, and then give the printer a distinctive name.

5. Click OK.

Windows 2000 users:

1. Click Start  Settings  Printers.

2. Right-click the icon for your printer.

3. Click Sharing.

4. Select Shared as, and then give the printer a distinctive name.

5. Click OK.

If the printer is shown as Shared on the host computer, but you still cannot print, try to locate the printer from the remote computer.

Windows Vista, Windows XP, or Windows 2000 users:

1. Do one of the following:

   • In Windows Vista, click  Control Panel  Printer (under Hardware and Sound).

   • In Windows XP, click Start Settings  Printers and Faxes.

     In Windows 2000, click Start Settings  Printers.

2. Open the Printer, Printers and Faxes, or Printers folder.

3. Right-click the icon for your printer.

4. Click Properties.

5. Click the Ports tab, and then click the Add Port button.

6. Select Local Port, and then click the New Port button.

7. Type the Universal Naming Convention (UNC) Port name, which consists of the server name and the distinctive printer name.

   The name should be in the form \\server\printer.

8. Click OK.

9. Click Close.

10. Make sure the new port has been selected on the Ports tab, and then click Apply.

    The new port is listed with the printer name.

11. Click OK.

Try printing again.