Need Help with Printer & File Sharing on Peer-to-Peer LAN Under WinXP Pro

In a 6-computer (all running WindowsXP Pro SP1) network connected by a
LinkSys 4-port router, I have one HP LaserJet 4 Plus printer connected to
one computer. It works fine as a local printer on the computer it's
attached to. It also works fine on 4 other computers in this network. I
had no trouble Adding it as a network printer on those 4 computers, and it
works fine on all of them. However, as it now stands, one computer will not
let me add it because it keeps insisting that "The printer name is invalid.
Either the printer name was typed incorrectly, or the specified printer has
lost its connection to the server. For more information, click Help" As
usual Help is not helpful because it doesn't even address the subject of
network printers. The error message is very strange because the printer
name was GENERATED BY THE Add Printer Wizard, Browse for Printer dialogue on
the other 4 computers--not by me typing it.

Out of utter frustration, I finally reinstalled WindowsXP Pro on the one
computer that would not let me add the printer and had the WinXP
installation delete the only partition on that hard drive, add a new
partition for WinXP, then format the entire hard drive (not the quick
format) before reinstalling XP Pro. The first thing I tried to do after the
reinstallation finished was to install the printer (which is attached to
another computer on this LAN.) However, to my utter amazement, I got the
very SAME ERROR MESSAGE after the format and reinstallation of XP Pro that I
got beforehand. Yet, the computer IS properly networking in every other
regard. It sees (through My Network Places,) all other computers on the LAN
AND it can access files and folders on all of them.

Moreover, I find that this computer can't access any data on that computer's
hard drive either, regardless of the fact that it's setup to share files
with users on the network and my User Name is listed on that computer's
remote access entries. At the same time, this computer CAN access data on
all other computers on this LAN.

I shall very greatly appreciate your help on this frustrating problem.

With kindest regards,

Dick Smith

You say you are running 6 identical computers off a 4 port router? That
leaves two more PC's thatn ports. Are the odd two wired through a hub
somewhere?
"AA Smith" <AAADick@Comcast.net> wrote in message
news:ew2U5DtWDHA.212@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...

> In a 6-computer (all running WindowsXP Pro SP1) network connected by a
> LinkSys 4-port router, I have one HP LaserJet 4 Plus printer connected to
> one computer. It works fine as a local printer on the computer it's
> attached to. It also works fine on 4 other computers in this network. I
> had no trouble Adding it as a network printer on those 4 computers, and it
> works fine on all of them. However, as it now stands, one computer will

not

> let me add it because it keeps insisting that "The printer name is

invalid.

> Either the printer name was typed incorrectly, or the specified printer

has

> lost its connection to the server. For more information, click Help" As
> usual Help is not helpful because it doesn't even address the subject of
> network printers. The error message is very strange because the printer
> name was GENERATED BY THE Add Printer Wizard, Browse for Printer dialogue

on

> the other 4 computers--not by me typing it.
>
> Out of utter frustration, I finally reinstalled WindowsXP Pro on the one
> computer that would not let me add the printer and had the WinXP
> installation delete the only partition on that hard drive, add a new
> partition for WinXP, then format the entire hard drive (not the quick
> format) before reinstalling XP Pro. The first thing I tried to do after

the

> reinstallation finished was to install the printer (which is attached to
> another computer on this LAN.) However, to my utter amazement, I got the
> very SAME ERROR MESSAGE after the format and reinstallation of XP Pro that

I

> got beforehand. Yet, the computer IS properly networking in every other
> regard. It sees (through My Network Places,) all other computers on the

LAN

> AND it can access files and folders on all of them.
>
> Moreover, I find that this computer can't access any data on that

computer's

> hard drive either, regardless of the fact that it's setup to share files
> with users on the network and my User Name is listed on that computer's
> remote access entries. At the same time, this computer CAN access data on
> all other computers on this LAN.
>
> I shall very greatly appreciate your help on this frustrating problem.
>
> With kindest regards,
>
> Dick Smith
>
>
>

Make sure the share name doesn't have a space in it or after it.

"AA Smith" <AAADick@Comcast.net> wrote in message
news:ew2U5DtWDHA.212@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...

> In a 6-computer (all running WindowsXP Pro SP1) network connected by a
> LinkSys 4-port router, I have one HP LaserJet 4 Plus printer connected to
> one computer. It works fine as a local printer on the computer it's
> attached to. It also works fine on 4 other computers in this network. I
> had no trouble Adding it as a network printer on those 4 computers, and it
> works fine on all of them. However, as it now stands, one computer will

not

> let me add it because it keeps insisting that "The printer name is

invalid.

> Either the printer name was typed incorrectly, or the specified printer

has

> lost its connection to the server. For more information, click Help" As
> usual Help is not helpful because it doesn't even address the subject of
> network printers. The error message is very strange because the printer
> name was GENERATED BY THE Add Printer Wizard, Browse for Printer dialogue

on

> the other 4 computers--not by me typing it.
>
> Out of utter frustration, I finally reinstalled WindowsXP Pro on the one
> computer that would not let me add the printer and had the WinXP
> installation delete the only partition on that hard drive, add a new
> partition for WinXP, then format the entire hard drive (not the quick
> format) before reinstalling XP Pro. The first thing I tried to do after

the

> reinstallation finished was to install the printer (which is attached to
> another computer on this LAN.) However, to my utter amazement, I got the
> very SAME ERROR MESSAGE after the format and reinstallation of XP Pro that

I

> got beforehand. Yet, the computer IS properly networking in every other
> regard. It sees (through My Network Places,) all other computers on the

LAN

> AND it can access files and folders on all of them.
>
> Moreover, I find that this computer can't access any data on that

computer's

> hard drive either, regardless of the fact that it's setup to share files
> with users on the network and my User Name is listed on that computer's
> remote access entries. At the same time, this computer CAN access data on
> all other computers on this LAN.
>
> I shall very greatly appreciate your help on this frustrating problem.
>
> With kindest regards,
>
> Dick Smith
>
>

Ooops! I failed to mention the obvious. Yes, I have a 7-port hub plugged
into one of the ports in my router and 3 computers plugged into the hub.
--
With kindest regards,

Dick Smith
"Shadow of James" <snowleopard99NOSPAM@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:tEAXa.33660$Mc.2674742@newsread1.prod.itd.ear thlink.net...

> You say you are running 6 identical computers off a 4 port router? That
> leaves two more PC's thatn ports. Are the odd two wired through a hub
> somewhere?
> "AA Smith" <AAADick@Comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:ew2U5DtWDHA.212@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...

to

I

it

> not

> invalid.

> has

As

dialogue

> on

> the

the

that

> I

> LAN

> computer's

on

>
>

Thanks, D. Currie!

Actually, it does have spaces in it. Always did. That name "HP LaserJet 4
Plus" has been on this network (despite the DOS warning message) for over a
year. It's always worked on the other 5 computers, and it worked on the
computer I'm having trouble with until a week ago, when I installed the new
cable modem & LinkSys router to the network. Now, it not only won't accept
that name (even though the browse for network printers dialogue finds and
displays that name on the list of available printers,) but it won't even let
Hewlett Packard's drivers for the HP OfficeJet G85 printer install because
the driver installation software reports that it cannot find the G85 on the
network. However, again, the same HP driver installation for the HP
OfficeJet G85 runs flawlessly on the other 5 computers.
--
With kindest regards,

Dick Smith
"D.Currie" <dmbcurrie@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:%23FAZpuwWDHA.1268@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...

> Make sure the share name doesn't have a space in it or after it.
>
> "AA Smith" <AAADick@Comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:ew2U5DtWDHA.212@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...

to

I

it

> not

> invalid.

> has

As

dialogue

> on

> the

the

that

> I

> LAN

> computer's

on

>
>