I have a small 5 computer network at our school. All computers have XP home (SP2) installed except 1 which has XP Pro. Our printer is connected to the XP Pro station (Parallel port) and I have enabled file and printer sharing. I have disabled Windows firewall as the network has no external access because the network is only setup for file and printer sharing - no internet access. When I install the network printer on the other 4 workstations, it asks for a username and password of the XP Pro workstation. I enter everything proper, tell it to remember the password and everything seems to work fine. The problem is that if I shutdown/restart the XP Home workstations I can no longer connect to the printer hooked up to the XP Pro machine. Any way to remove the password security on the printer and share just like a XP Home setup? Thanks. 1 person needs an answerI do too

HiWin XP home has only simple sharning system.Win XP Pro has Simple and Pro sharing. Try to switch the XP Pro to simple sharing too.If it does not work, enable the guest account.http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/ua_provide_guest_account_w.mspx?mfr=trueBe aware that there is No Network security under these settings. Jack-MVP Windows Networking. WWW.EZLAN.NET

HiWin XP home has only simple sharning system.Win XP Pro has Simple and Pro sharing. Try to switch the XP Pro to simple sharing too.If it does not work, enable the guest account.http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/ua_provide_guest_account_w.mspx?mfr=trueBe aware that there is No Network security under these settings. Jack-MVP Windows Networking. WWW.EZLAN.NET

Thanks for the help. I turned on simple file sharing in XP Pro and tried connecting the network printer. When connecting now, it assumes a guest login. Do I ALSO need to enable the guest account as well? It also asked for a password - which I know guest accounts do not have.

HiYeah, you have to enable it on all computers. Jack-MVP Windows Networking. WWW.EZLAN.NET

OK. I have enabled guest accounts on all computers, and enabled simple file sharing on the XP Pro machine. Now, while adding the network printer, the XP Home machine assumes guest as the username and asks for a password. There are no passwords for guest accounts so I leave it blank. Then it tells me, "Windows cannot connect to the printer. Operation could not be completed" Any other ideas?? * Edit: Yes, the printer is turned on. lol* Edit 2: After more testing, I've found that I can not connect to the XP Pro machine through the "view workgroup computers" I can see the computer, but am not allowed to connect.

HiYou are missing some check up some where.This links should remind you of the points that needed to be checked.---------------For best results log to each computer's System Screen and set all the computers to be on a Network with the same name while each computer has its own unique name.http://www.ezlan.net/Win7/net_name.jpgMake sure that the Software Firewall on each computer allows free local traffic. If you use 3rd party Firewall On, Vista/XP Native Firewall should be Off, and the active Firewall has to adjusted to your Network IP numbers on what is some time called the Trusted Zone (consult your 3rd Party Firewall instructionsGeneral example, http://www.ezlan.net/faq.html#trustedPlease Note that some 3rd party Software Firewalls keep blocking aspects of Local Traffic even it they are turned Off (disabled). If possible configure the Firewall correctly, or totally uninstall it to allow clean flow of local network traffic. If the 3rd party software is uninstalled or disables, make sure that Windows native Firewall is On .Windows XP File Sharing - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304040Printer Sharing XP - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/honeycutt_july2.mspxWindows Native Firewall setting for Sharing XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357 Jack-MVP Windows Networking. WWW.EZLAN.NET