So I got an HP Officejet Pro 8500

Installed it to my computer, connected it with a USB cable, works great.

Configured it to read the wireless router for the upstairs computer, which is where I get my internet. Went to install the wireless driver stuff on the upstairs computer, seemed to get through that alright, but when it went to search for printers, it wasn't finding my device. My networking expertise is limited, any thoughts?

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

When you say you got it configured to read your wireless, I assume it joined your wireless network and got an IP address from your router.
Is there an easy to see from the printer what IP address it's using?

You should be able to either print directly to the IP address or at least browse to the IP address when searching for the printer on your network.

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You're able to print a network configuration data sheet from the printer which give the IP address, which I did, and did a search from the computer for that IP address, and it still didn't find the printer.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

I'll assume you have a windows workgroup set up...your computers can see each other correct?

What version of windows are we talking about here?

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No I don't think so. My dad did most of setting all this up. From what I can tell, all we have is the router sending wireless internet to the three other computers.

You're going to like this...

On the computer with the router we have windows XP
My computer has 64 bit windows Vista
My Dad's laptop has windows 7
The fourth computer has XP as well.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Haha...ok...which one can't see the printer? the one with the router?

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Correct. I went to install the software/drivers for the printer on that computer and when it came time to search for the printer, it couldn't find it.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Try this....
http://uis.georgetown.edu/software/docu ... inter.html

To add a network printer by IP address is WinXP, you actually have to add a "local" printer and create a new TCP/IP port...It's completely counter intuitive.

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Aha! Actually I started to go that route last night, then decided to give up and try again in the morning, haha.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

I'll try it later and let you know how it works.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

it picked it up now and created a new tcp/ip port on its own, but I'm still seeing this error

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

apparently there is a patch

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Printer-ne ... m-p/214708

running upstairs again lol

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Seems to be working.

This is like a goddamn 80s video game, impossible, but each time you get a little further than you did before, before some other god damn thing happens that you can't beat.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

success? attempting to print test page

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Blah, seems like everything installed okay, but now when I try to print, the computer is saying the printer is offline, when it is clearly not. And I tried reestablishing the printers connection to the router, still picks it up, but no luck.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

try disabling windows firewall entirely and trying it again...

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Yeah we had it down.

One way or another it worked. The computer is just a dirty liar when it says the printer is offline. I suspect that the reception of the wireless signal isn't as strong as the printer claims.

Either way, thanks for all your help. I hear doing this on a windows 7 machine is much easier which is what I will be doing tomorrow.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

Yea, when you try to have a printer work for both Vista and Xp, the Xp machine can give you troubles, that is what I've heard about it.

We have a wireless printer but it doesn't work wirelessly for my computer, not sure if it works for my mom's though.

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