How to share my printer on home network?

How do I share my printer and files on a home network?

• Hi, I just bought a nice HP deskjet F4235 printer and I want to share it on my network at home. I plan on connecting it to my brother's Dell desktop computer by USB which is running Windows XP SP2. So, my guess is that I need to share something on my brother's Dell desktop computer in order to be able to share files and print from my laptop. I want to be able to print off my Gateway laptop, which also has Windows Xp, by wireless, which my laptop connects to my Linksys Wireless Router. I need the steps on how to share my files and printer, also my friend did try to help me out, but he kept getting a spool app error on Windows. He doesn't know what to do, so he told me to try reinstalling all my printer drivers, and it didn't work. What do I need to do? Please help me.

• Answer:

  Make sure your brother's computer and your laptop BOTH are connected to the same linksys router. Install the printer on your brother's computer and share it. Then on your laptop, go to control panel and click "Add a printer" wizard Add the printer as network printer. On your brother's Dell Desktop, click on Start, Run and type"Services.msc". Scroll down the list and find a service named "Printer Spooler". Right click on it and click start. Also set it to "Automatic" . Do the same thing on your laptop. Any thing you want to share from your brother's desktop comupter has to be shared. Also keep in mind that your brother can not turn his Dell computer off, otherwise printing and sharing will not work. Anytime you want to print from your laptop, you have to turn your brother's Dell computer on first.