Can't see printers on XP machine

[Cheryl]

I had some severe problems with my hard drive, so I backed up everything, did an erase and install of Tiger.
At the same time, my honey was downloading updates on his XP machine.

The problem is I can not connect to the laserjet connected to the XP. I can see the XP machine in Windows printing (in Print Setup Utility), but no printers show up. I have tried IP printing, SAMBA, Installed Ghostprint (it did nothing to help), tried different HP drivers that closely match the laser.
I think I have exhausted all my ideas.

HP LaserJet 1160 connected to XP via usb
XP and 10.4.2 connected via Linksys ethernet router
Printer sharing is turned on (on XP) along with allowing unix printing.
router unchanged settings.
Double checked settings on XP and allowed guest.
Double checked ZoneAlarm (on XP) to allow printer sharing.
Double checked Directory Access on the Mac to make sure all was enabled.

I had the printer set before the re-install and updates on the XP. Now I can see the XP - even in Network, it's those printers that do not show up.

I realize that this could be the fault of the XP machine, but I am not sure what. An MS setting, or ZoneAlarm? Do I have to be set as a user in order to see those printers? Or is there something I missed (because I am really tired)

Any help from our windows/network gurus would be helpful.

[gsahli]

Hi Cheryl,
Must be one of those weeks - I had my CDROM fail and cause a hard drive glitch that killed Tiger for a week.

When you say you installed ghostscript, did you also install hpijs?
http://www.linuxprinting.org/macosx/hpijs/

Do you have an account on that PC with your Mac "usernameassword?" (that's easiest) If not, you have to go the Advanced Windows Printing via Samba route:
http://www.ifelix.co.uk/tech/3009.html

Good luck. Hope this gets you going.

[Cheryl]

Thanks for the ideas, but they didn't work.
I get errors when trying to connect via Windows -Samba.

I was given a user name and administrator to the XP computer, but still can not see the printers. Under Windows printing I see the XP computer, but no printers show up (I use to see both printers connected to the XP machine).
The XP is set up correctly per the ifelix web site.

Here is a twist:
When I try to connect to the XP via Network, I get "the alias "computername" could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found."

I can not delete the alias file because "I do not have permission" I then get caught in a loop.

I would like to use the laser jet printer for my text only documents.
I was able to before.

[gsahli]

I think repairing permissions will help (for deleting the alias).

The situation you are in is quite common when both computers are using DHCP for IP address and both get shut down and "reset" - like preferences lost, like software reinstalled, etc.
Resetting the router (power off for 30 secs) and restarting both computers to re-establish DHCP connection often helps here.
Recheck the IP addresses and try the iFelix method above - it gets around the confusion of changes pretty well.

If that still doesn't work, let's try some basic troubleshooting - run this command in Terminal:
"smbclient -NL {IP address of PC}"
This tells us if Samba can find the printer on the PC.

[Cheryl]

Repairing permissions did not change anything.

Terminal gives this report:

Domain=[{XP name}] OS=[Windows 5.1] Server=[Windows 2000 LAN Manager]

Sharename Type Comment
--------- ---- -------
Error returning browse list: NT_STATUS_OK
session request to {IP address} failed (Called name not present)
session request to 192 failed (Called name not present)
Domain=[{XP name}] OS=[Windows 5.1] Server=[Windows 2000 LAN Manager]

Server Comment
--------- -------

Workgroup Master
--------- -------


My thinking is it maybe something on the XP machine that is preventing me seeing the printers.

We will try the power down and restart and see if that changes anything.

[Cheryl]

resetting the router and restarting both machines did not change anything.

I can see the XP, but no printers.

I wonder if this is a ZoneAlarm (on the XP) problem?

[gsahli]

Yes, please try turning off Zone Alarm, and the WinXP SP2 firewall too.

Your smbclient command shows no shares (disks or folders, and printers), so you won't be able to file share or print until that is fixed.
Here's what my smbclient command result looks like:

Domain=[NEW_ANCHOR] OS=[Windows 5.1] Server=[Windows 2000 LAN Manager]

Sharename Type Comment
--------- ---- -------
My Documents Disk
IPC$ IPC Remote IPC
D$ Disk Default share
print$ Disk Printer Drivers
C Disk
D Disk
HPLaserJ Printer HP LaserJet 4L/4ML PostScript
My Pictures Disk
Hot_Printer Disk
ADMIN$ Disk Remote Admin
C$ Disk Default share
session request to 192.168.200.11 failed (Called name not present)
session request to 192 failed (Called name not present)
Domain=[NEW_ANCHOR] OS=[Windows 5.1] Server=[Windows 2000 LAN Manager]

Server Comment
--------- -------

Workgroup Master
--------- -------

(So you see the "called name not present" is normal for this command, but I've got a bunch of shares available.)

You might want to go to "Sharing" (right click properties) for all the desired shares and see that they're still shared, too.

Good luck.

[Cheryl]

The WinXP Firewall is off. All the sharing is still on.
Zone Alarm was installed previously and allowed me to see the printers before. My husband is really leery of turning off his protection.

Is there a special setting in Zone Alarm that we are missing? Or did the last update from MS do this?

Of course, my husband is saying it is the Mac that is causing this grief.