Shared Printer

[Wheelbrace]

I wish my printer to be shared by two computers - one running on XP and the other on Vista.
Can I do this by using a USB Switch?

Thanks

[ChuckFickens]

you could using something like this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/USB-2-0-switching-hub- switch/dp/B000I3WV1U/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=elec tronics&qid=1226232884&sr=1-2

or if they are networked (connected to the same broadband router) you could just share it on one computer so it's usable by the other one (though then the one it's connected to needs to be switched on for the other to print)

if you do have a broadband router check the connection on that too, some have a usb port for sharing printers.

[Wheelbrace]

Thank you ChuckFickens.

I am not Networking. I wish to use both computers myself - my reas on being that I have olod programmes which I cannot run on Vista which are irreplaceable and which require a printing facility.

I just wondered whether a single printer can handle two different operating systems?

[ChuckFickens]

the printer doesn't care (or probably even know) what is sending the information to it,

As long as there are printer drivers available for both XP and Vista for your printer (check the manufacturers web site) then it will work.

[Wheelbrace]

Thanks again CuckFickens. Very helpful .

[ACtheTROLL]

If that's all the other machine does
another option is to use virtual PC running XP on the vista machine.

[Wheelbrace]

Thank you ACtheTroll. That sounds a good idea - Can you explain how I would set that up?

[ACtheTROLL]

I use I quite a bit for testing stuff
It's a virtual PC (the clue is in the name) - It's a little Zen to start with - but just treat it as a PC
the next version of windows (7) will support it natively - server farms are moving to virtual servers as fast as they can.

install the prog - then create a new machine ..... the default settings are normally adequate ....
it will ask which OS - XP and how big a disc to create..... based on that it will create a PC with a HDD and RAM sufficient to run your O/s
the disc is "real" - an 8Gb disc is 8Gb in size (plus a bit)
allocate 1Gb of ram - and that's 1Gb gone from the real PC
CD/dvd usb etc are shared

after a little whizzing and banging the interface will open
and you install XP (from your "real" cd/dvd just as normal (except you won't need drivers) (if it connects to the internet you will need virus protection)
Microsoft have changed the licence to allow for virtual PCs

once that's done install your progs (you can either network the virtual PC with the real one .... or just share devices - simpler to do - more confusing to use

you can even back up the machine once it's working as you want it
(you need to back up your data regularly as well)



also It's free
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.asp x?********=04D26402-3199-48A3-AFA2-2DC0B40A73B 6&displaylang=en

[ACtheTROLL]

bl@@dy ab
censoring links

google Virtual PC 2007

or second link (if this survives)

http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navcli ent&hl=en-GB&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GPTB_en-GBGB295GB 295&q=virtual+pc+2007

[Wheelbrace]

Thanks again for your advice.

[VHG]

I have a printer attached to my Vista computer.

I also have another XP Computer.

Both plug into the same router.

I can print from either computer without any fancy switches or whatever. It just uses printer sharing which is built into Windows.

The only proviso is that the Vista computer has to be switched on for the XP computer to print.

[Wheelbrace]

Thank you VHG.