[RESOLVED] Another 8.1 disaster...

[stewart borland]

My laptop will no longer connect to the printer since the new Desktop went in. But it won't let me delete (so reinstall) a homegroup. Think it's looking for the old one but it says Windows can't delete it so it won't let me instal a new one.
tried this:
The fix seems to be Deleting all files that reside in the PeerNetworking folder> C:\windows\serviceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Roaming\PeerNetworking

and this:
Once everything peer Networking Grouping is running all you have to do is this
start the Task Manager
Click on the service Tab
Find the "HomeGroupProvider"
AND STOP IT!!!!
Once you stop it... try to leave the homegroup...... worked for me!!!!

and I still can't delete the old one so can't jin a new one to get at the printer.

Any suggestions welcome, otherwise it's fingers crossed that 10 is as good as 7 - I hate Dell for refusing to sell me Windows 7 and hate them even more for refusing to send me back-up media - it's because they are saving trees apparently

[jdc2000]

More details on this issue might be helpful.

Is your printer connected to one of the computers?
If so, which one and how (USB, ot other method)?
If not, is it a network printer?

Make and model of the printer would be helpful.

[stewart borland]

Connected to new Dell by USB, laptop used to connect via network I assume.
It's a canon MG5250

[jdc2000]

I would skip the Homegroup entirely and simply share the printer.

Links:

http://www.eightforums.com/network-s...ters-argh.html

http://superuser.com/questions/42775...out-homegroups

http://www.7tutorials.com/how-share-...r-your-network

[stewart borland]

OK, I think I've done everything right on the Desktop but how should it show up on the laptop?
I tried add device, add printer but can't find the printer?

[jdc2000]

If you have the printer shared, open a Windows Explorer (My Computer or Computer) window on the other computer, and in the box where is says "Computer" (below the blue Title Bar, to the right of the arrows in circles), type two backslashes and either the computername of the computer the printer is connected to, or the IP address of the computer that the printer is connected to, as described in the second link I posted previously.

[stewart borland]

Sorry, no sign of the Canon, just the Oki I use at work on another network (or another wi-fi connection assuming that's the same thing) and a folder named Users.
What can I try next?

[jdc2000]

Are you sure that the printer is Shared? Post a screen capture of the Printers window from the Desktop computer.

[stewart borland]

screen shot

[jdc2000]

Try changing the printer name to:

CanonMG5200

(with no spaces)


Then, see if it appears in a Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer) window on the laptop when you enter:

\\ComputerName

Where ComputerName is the name of the computer shown after "Computer Name: " when you right-click on "Computer" and select Properties.

Note that you may have to suplpy logon credentials for the desktop computer when you try to access it from the laptop.

[jdc2000]

Also, post a screen capture of what you see on the laptop in the window for the shared folders and printers on the desktop.

[stewart borland]

Thanks for taking the time to write it all out in such a simple way - you obviously guessed if you didn't I be right back at you

Not sure what the name change did or why but it worked!

As always, many thanks for your time & patience.

[jdc2000]

If you use spaces in network share names, (printer and computer names), this can cause issues when you try to access them. Using only letters and numbers, and starting the name with a letter, works best.

Glad you got it working again, at least until Microsoft decides to change how things work again.

[stewart borland]

Spoke too soon... worked fine yesterday.
Home from work today and I'm getting 'Access Denied unable to connect' on the window that pops up when you ask it to print?
When you do the Explorer computer name thing it's there but not asking for a user name or password?

[jdc2000]

Check the desktop computer. If it is set to go into sleep mode or set to power down SB devices, that could cause the issue.