The Apple laptop (while running Mac OS 10.6) printed as soon as I joined the wireless network, so I knew the network, printer, and computer were operating properly.
However, booting the Apple laptop into windows 7 (ultimate edition) was a different story.
The machine failed to see the printer; it would surf the net fine, but no printer.
The same held true for the Dell (windows XP); surfed OK, no printer available.
After Googling around for a
quick fix, I began to troubleshoot:
This is the result of that nightmare...
windows XP:
Click to configure USB printers to Apple Airport Base Station with windows 7.
[SECTION 1]
If using multiple computers, work with one at a time.
Verify you have web connectivity. (If not, correct this before proceeding.)
Install the printer
directly to the computer following the printers directions; run the disk, or download the software from the manufacturers site. (This insures the drivers are resident on the machine.)
Print a test page.
Printed? Good.
Take a deep breath.
Unplug the printer USB cable from the computer, and plug it into the Airport Base Station.
Disable your firewall software. (EX: Norton, McAfee, windows, etc... This is temporary.)
[SECTION 2]
Click '
Start',
Select '
Printers and Faxes',
Click '
Add Printer'.
The
Add Printer Wizard starts up,
Click '
Next',
Select '
Local Printer',
Uncheck '
Automatically detect and install my Plug and Play printer'. (Yes, Local.
NOT network.)
Click '
Next',
Select '
Create a new port',
Choose '
Standard TCP/IP Port' from the drop-down menu,
Click '
Next'.
The
Add Standard TCP/IP Port Wizard starts, click '
Next'.
Enter the Airport Base Station IP address (
Default is 10.0.1.1)
Add (or change) the port number to
9100, or
9101 worked for me, or
9202 and modify the
Port Name to reflect the new port number:
Click '
Next',
Select '
Custom',
Click '
Settings'
Change the
Raw Settings Port Number to reflect your port number, and Click '
OK',
Click '
Next'.
Click '
Finish'
Select your
printer's manufacturer from the list on the left.
Select your
printer's model from the list on the right.
(If the model isn't listed, Click the '
Windows Update' button to load more from the web;
be patient, this may take several minutes, depending on internet and processor speed....)
(If the model still isn't listed, pick the closest one; this will be replaced later with the pre-installed one.)
Click '
Next',
(If asked to choose whether to keep existing driver, or replace, keep existing, unless your compelled to choose otherwise.., and Click '
Next')
Change the printer name. EX:
yourprintername (Wireless)
Select default or not,
Click '
Next'
Select '
Do not share this printer' (as it will be networked),
Click '
Next', continue on to...
[SECTION 3]
Click '
Print Test Page'; -Prints?;
Yes? Click '
Finish' (or '
OK'); continue at
[section 5].
No test print?; Click '
Finish', (or '
OK'),
Click '
Start'
Select '
Printers and Faxes'
Right-Click your new printer icon, and select '
Properties',
Choose the '
Advanced' tab,
Look at the listed Driver:
Does it match your printer's model?
If
YES; the listed driver matches your printer model, continue at
[section 4].
If
NO, select the printer from the drop-down list,
Click '
OK',
Click the '
General' tab, Start again at
[section 3].
[SECTION 4]
Click the '
Ports' tab,
Uncheck '
Enable bidirectional support',
Click the '
General' tab,
Click '
Print Test Page',
Prints?; -
Yes? Click '
Finish' (or '
OK'); continue at
[section 5].
No test print?; Click the '
Ports' tab,
Check '
Enable bidirectional support',
The highlighted port in the list should be your newly added port,
Click 'Configure Port',
Change the port number to 9100, or 9101, or 9202 and modify the Port Name to reflect the new port number,
Click 'OK',
Click the 'General' tab,
Click 'Print Test Page',
Prints?; -Yes? Click 'Close'; continue at [section 5].
No test print?
Start over again at [SECTION 4] {If after trying all listed ports, you are unable to print, we suggest posting to the manufacturers forums for further help.]
[SECTION 5]
Re-enable your firewall.
Try printing,
Prints?; -
Yes? Great, you're done with this machine.
No printing?
Open the port you configured in your firewall software.
For example, if you've installed the current (2010) Norton Security Suite, you would run the program, hover the cursor over '
PC Security' and select '
Manage Firewall',
Select the '
Traffic Rules' tab,
Click '
Add',
Select '
Allow', Click '
Next',
Select '
Connections to and from other computers', Click '
Next',
Select '
Any computer in the local subnet' Click '
Next',
Select protocol to allow '
TCP',
Select '
Only communications that match all types and ports listed below',
Click '
Add',
Select '
Individually specified ports',
Select '
Local',
Enter your printer port (
9100, 9101, 9202) you configured, Click '
Next',
Select '
Create an event log entry',
Select '
Apply this rule', Click '
Next',
Rename the rule (EX: Wireless Printing Port
XXXX), Click '
Next'
Click '
Finish', Click '
Apply', Click '
Close'
{
Please refer to your firewall software support network for its specifics}
Click to configure USB printers to Apple Airport Base Station with windows 7.
