Question about two computers and one printer

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (More info?)

Hello,

I have two computers. I use one and wife uses other. Connected to
Internet with a router. I have one printer. A HP LaserJet 1320 that I
connect to with a USB cord.

Question, can I hook the second computer to the same printer with a
"Y" connection and just make sure that only one computer uses printer
at a time?

Thanks for input or suggestions.

poston [@] comcast.net

 

[zakezuke]

Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (More info?)

> Question, can I hook the second computer to the same printer with a
> "Y" connection and just make sure that only one computer uses printer
> at a time?

You can't really use a "y" connection that i'm aware of... if both
systems happen to be on at the same time hooked to the printer you may
cause a short, though I'd have to look at the pin outs again to verify
this. You can't really use a hub in this way that i'm aware of as most
hubs are geared tward using one PC and one device. Even in the olden
days of printers pre-usb printer sharing on the cheap required a
switchbox. A cheap switchbox became undesireable in later years as the
swiching caused garbage to be tossed down the line. I imagine there
"could" be a usb print server that is designed to act as a middle man
between two systems over USB, where the two systems could toss jobs to
the device, and the device in turn handles the actual printing, but
given the fact that you already have a network, following Cwatter's
advice would be faster, cheaper, and the reccomended solution. Going
with any form of USB sharing would add wires and equipment when you
already have a network... something designed to do what you ask.

If you find you want to print with the other system powered off you can

1. Buy a hub which has a print server onboard, attach printer to hub.
Could be wired or wireless.
2. Buy a small print server which attaches to your existing hub.

The advantage of going this way, even with a wired network, is the fact
that the cable lengh is limited to 100 meters, rather than usb which is
well... much smaller.

The choice is simple

1. Share the printer... spend nothing... keep both machines on
2. go with a print server and a wire... spend $50 to $100ish
3. Go with a new hub, wired or wireless with print server onboard...
spend $100-$150ish.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (More info?)

"Bill Poston" <poston8@REMOVEcomcast.net> wrote in message
news:t52ne1105v3mhcvdmn232cu5t40cn87gqb@4ax.com...
> Hello,
>
> I have two computers. I use one and wife uses other. Connected to
> Internet with a router. I have one printer. A HP LaserJet 1320 that I
> connect to with a USB cord.
>
> Question, can I hook the second computer to the same printer with a
> "Y" connection and just make sure that only one computer uses printer
> at a time?

You can share the printer and both use it at once.

On the printer to which it's connected go...

Start -> Control Panel -> Printers and... -> Printers and faxes

Then right click on your printer icon and select "sharing".

Then mark the "share this printer" button and give it a name without spaces.
(example HP_LaserJet).

On the other computer...

Start -> Control Panel -> Printers and... -> Add a printer

New window opens click Next.

Select "A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer" and
click Next

The rest is straightforward.

The end result is that your wifes computer will appear to have a printer
connected to it but in fact everything she prints is routed through your
computer. You can both send jobs to the printer at the same time and it will
print one after the other. The only problem occurs if your computer is off -
it needs to be on for your wife to be able to print.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (More info?)

Assuming you have either a cabled cat 5 router or a wireless the 2
computers have a network card. All you need to do is the following:

1. Connect the printer to a USB port on 1 computer
2. Install the printer drivers and software on both computers
3. Set up a share (with appropriate permissions if necessary for
everyone) on the printer.
4, The other computer should be able to see the share.

That will work without a doubt since I am doing it on a W2K system.

CWatters wrote:

>"Bill Poston" <poston8@REMOVEcomcast.net> wrote in message
>news:t52ne1105v3mhcvdmn232cu5t40cn87gqb@4ax.com...
>
>
>>Hello,
>>
>>I have two computers. I use one and wife uses other. Connected to
>>Internet with a router. I have one printer. A HP LaserJet 1320 that I
>>connect to with a USB cord.
>>
>>Question, can I hook the second computer to the same printer with a
>>"Y" connection and just make sure that only one computer uses printer
>>at a time?
>>
>>
>
>You can share the printer and both use it at once.
>
>On the printer to which it's connected go...
>
>Start -> Control Panel -> Printers and... -> Printers and faxes
>
>Then right click on your printer icon and select "sharing".
>
>Then mark the "share this printer" button and give it a name without spaces.
>(example HP_LaserJet).
>
>On the other computer...
>
>Start -> Control Panel -> Printers and... -> Add a printer
>
>New window opens click Next.
>
>Select "A network printer, or a printer attached to another computer" and
>click Next
>
>The rest is straightforward.
>
>The end result is that your wifes computer will appear to have a printer
>connected to it but in fact everything she prints is routed through your
>computer. You can both send jobs to the printer at the same time and it will
>print one after the other. The only problem occurs if your computer is off -
>it needs to be on for your wife to be able to print.
>
>
>
>
>
>

 

[Rob]

Archived from groups: comp.periphs.printers (More info?)

Bill Poston wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have two computers. I use one and wife uses other. Connected to
> Internet with a router. I have one printer. A HP LaserJet 1320 that I
> connect to with a USB cord.
>
> Question, can I hook the second computer to the same printer with a
> "Y" connection and just make sure that only one computer uses printer
> at a time?
>
> Thanks for input or suggestions.
>
> poston [@] comcast.net
>
>

If the printer is on one PC and the PC's are networked then all you have
to do is load the printer program onto the second computer and access
the printer through your computer (as a network printer). Both PC's have
to be turned on.

Not sure what the HP has but the Epson R210 has one USB on the rear and
one on the front. Either can be used to run the printer - hence I
sometimes have a USB cable pushed into the front coming from the other PC.

Haven't tried what you suggest as I network the printers through the PC's.