[sameer]

Yo!

a printer is connected to my dads computer upstairs, so usually i ask him to log on to his computer and attach the printer. in this way my computer detects his on the network and prints.

but here's the question, is there anyway inwhich i can connect to that printer without his computer being on?? - obviously through network, since i wont be moving the printer or my computer

thanks in advance for any possible answers

-heyendo

[ghporter]

That all depends. What kind of network do you have, and more importantly, what printer is it and how is it connected to your father's computer?

[sameer]

its an Epson 890
its connected via USB
we have adsl.....
the phone-wire goes through a router, which then splits up into ethernet cables going to different comps in the house, one of which goes to a D-Link wireless router that my dads computer reaches via airport xtreme.
what i can do (up to now, havent checked other things) is filesharing, ie go on Network and Connect to Server, and the printer sharing

idk how much help tht will be of, but it should be sumthing


-heyendo

[ghporter]

Probably the best course for you is to buy a USB printserver. I've seen these at CompUSA for the $40 range. You plug a network cable into one end, a USB cable to the printer into the other, and follow the manual's instructions for setting up the computers. Not terribly complex at all.

Be warned that USB printers don't share well over networks, and if you go this way, your father, who is currently probably getting all the feedback data from the printer (ink low, paper levels, etc.) may not be happy when he stops getting this stuff because of the network connection.