Sharing a printer in Windows XP

Uninstall the network printer on your 98 machine and then reinstall.  Are you having any other problems with file sharing between your XP and 98 or is printing the only difficulty?

I have tried installing it several times. I only tried installing the printer since that is the only thing that I need

Try these steps:

Disable all firewalls for testing.  This includes Zone Alarm, Norton Internet Security, etc.
  Including XP's ICF...
  From Control Panel, open Network Connections.
  Right-click Local Area Network from Control Panel's Network Connections and choose Properties
  Click the Advanced tab and deselect (remove the checkbox from) "Protect my computer..."
  Click OK and close out of Network Connections & Control Panel

Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP:
  XP utilizes DNS for communication by default.  To enable the systems to communicate via NetBIOS,
  proceed as above to enter Network Connections.
  Right-click your Local Area Connection and click Properties
  Scroll down in "This connection uses the following items:" to find Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
  Select it (highlight it) and click properties
  Click the Advanced button on the General tab.
  Click the WINS tab.
  Under NetBIOS setting heading
   Click Enable NetBIOS over TCP/IP
  Click OK, OK, OK and close out of Network Connections & Control Panel

Disable Simple File Sharing:
  Right-click the Start button and click Explore
  Click Tools then Click Folder Options
  Click the View tab
  At the bottom of the Advanced Settings list, deselect (remove the checkbox from):
   "Use simple file sharing (Recommended)"
  Click OK

Let Everyone's permissions apply to anonymous users as well:
   Click Start->Run->SECPOL.MSC /S <ENTER>
     Navigate to Local Policies/Security Options.
     Double click "Network Access:Let Everyone permissions apply to anonymous users"
     Click Enabled and click OK

Check these links for more information:
  http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/wxpwin9x.htm
  http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/troubleshoot/
  http://www.practicallynetworked.com/sharing/xp/addxp.htm
  http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308007

When you installed it, did you use the install CD that it came with?

The problem is that I cannot connect to the printer. As soon as I type in the share name and printer name is goes into offline mode.

what happens if you right click on the printer and try to deselect, use printer offline?

It just errors out. It does not make sense since I added the XP machine to it with no problems. They all use the same account to log in also.

How long is the share name on the xp machine?  try a test and name the share test, give everyone full control
and make sure your xp box has a valid account for the 98 client.

The computer and share name are both very short. The share name is just HP. The PCs all are using the same account to log in.

Okay here is the exact error

The network printer is currently offline. You can install the printer now but you will not be able to print until it comes back online.

I tried adding the printer by IP

here is what I did

\\192.168.2.229\HP

then it gives out that error.

I am adding more points

Okay I figured out the problem. It ended up being a work group and DNS issue. I corrected both of them and was able to connect. I then had to take the password off on the 98 PC.


case closed.