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civicbro · Sep 17, 2006, 03:45 AM

Hello,

First time poster! I recently purchased a MacBook, and it's amazing so far and this forum is very informative. I am a noob, so bare with me... Is possibe to print a document through my MacBook and have it print out of my PC's printer. I've installed the drivers and have a wireless router in the house, so can I somehow configure the MacBook to Print via my PC printer, or do I have to purchase a seperate printer? Any help or advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

kennedy · Sep 17, 2006, 07:52 AM

So the printer is on one of the PC's on your network?
And the PC is set to share that printer... letting others of your PC's to print to it?
If so, then yes its no problem for you MacBook to print to it just like any PC.
I do so on various of the networks I often visit.

If I remember correctly, the normal Add Printer Wizard will lead you through it just fine.
(Been a while since I did it, sorry.)

ghporter · Sep 17, 2006, 08:31 AM

Welcome, civicbro!

There are a number of issues to deal with in answering your question. Most of them are geared to the printer, not your Mac. First and foremost, how is the printer connected to the PC? If it's a parallel port connection, and you have properly shared the printer through Windows, AND there's a Mac driver for the printer that supports network printing, you're fine. On the other hand, if it's a USB connection, I see trouble ahead-there are few USB printers that share well for network printing from Macs OR PCs.

So fill us in on the details-what printer, what connection, etc., and we'll help out as much as possible.

And again, WELCOME!

mikeypas · Sep 17, 2006, 10:33 AM

I just got my macbook and am also first time mac user. I have the pretty standard epson c86 printer, connected to my PC by USB. Have it shared on my pc, and the mac picked it up right away, no issues.

ghporter · Sep 17, 2006, 02:09 PM

Great news, mickeypas! That's unusual-if shared USB printers work for the sharing computer, they usually take some fiddling to get going.

civicbro · Sep 17, 2006, 02:38 PM

Thanks for the replies everyone! My printer is connected via USB cable to my desktop PC and I ran the "Share Printer" Wizard. I went back to my MacBook to select my printer model, but could not find it in the list given. Am I suppose to select IP Printer and insert the my desktop's IP address? Sorry, but I'm really confused. Any help or advice would be greaT! Thanks guys!

Macola · Sep 17, 2006, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by civicbro

Thanks for the replies everyone! My printer is connected via USB cable to my desktop PC and I ran the "Share Printer" Wizard. I went back to my MacBook to select my printer model, but could not find it in the list given. Am I suppose to select IP Printer and insert the my desktop's IP address? Sorry, but I'm really confused. Any help or advice would be greaT! Thanks guys!

Click on the "More Printers" button in the print browser window, then select Windows Printing and walk through the following steps.

Dr. DDS · Sep 18, 2006, 10:45 AM

you can also buy a printer server that will connect wireless to your router and you will not need your PC turned on everytime you want to print.