Posted: 7/11/2002 11:31:01 AM EDT
|
Ive got 2 computer questions for you guys. 1. One of our XP machine likes to install a second printer EVERY time we do a restart. Then we go in and remove the printer, all is well again until the next restart. Why and how do we fix it with out[smash]. Its a Brother laser and a Dell Dimension. 2. I got volunteered into helping my wife's office set up a simple network for file sharing and internet access. Approx 30 computers. DSL line w/ router coming in, then a 3Com Hub, cat 5 cable to all the stand alone desktops, network cards for all. I did this same setup at my office, (only difference was cable modem), and it works great, but only 5 computers. I thought I remember from years ago about a limitation to doing this, maybe 12?? I did it though the network wizard (network neighborhood). Anyone do this before with 20 or so? The computers they have now are Pent III's, Dells, running 98. I was hoping to get the rest PIIII's, Dells, OS 2000, but Dell will not load 2000 on a Dimension machine, only their Opti line (more expensive machine). Any ideas on any of the above would be great. Art in KY |
|
parallel port After the restart there are 2 printers in the printers folder. I remove the one that was just installed, and its ok (of course I leave the original printer icon installed). Prints ok with the 2 printers in there, but you get the hour glass even while no tasks are being preformed. That's how we new something was up. Art in KY |
|
Quoted: parallel port After the restart there are 2 printers in the printers folder. I remove the one that was just installed, and its ok (of course I leave the original printer icon installed). Prints ok with the 2 printers in there, but you get the hour glass even while no tasks are being preformed. That's how we new something was up. Art in KY Hmmm and they're the same printers for both icons? Try removing both printers and see what happens. Never had this happen to me before, but I do know on my laptop when I had to use the printer (never used it before on laptop) I plugged USB in and it installed everything to be able to print...not sure if it does the same thing for parallel in XP. |
|
Make sure there is nothing in the startup directory of the user that is loggin on. For example, user Fred Flintstone may have a userid of fflintstone. Check in C:\Documents and Settings\fflintstone\Start Menu\Programs\Startup for any files. Any programs in this area will execute any time the user logs in. If that is not it, then the system may be detecting new printer hardware upon each startup. I think Dell has free tech support. I recommend calling them at their 800# tech support line. |
|
Quoted: Make sure there is nothing in the startup directory of the user that is loggin on. For example, user Fred Flintstone may have a userid of fflintstone. Check in C:\Documents and Settings\fflintstone\Start Menu\Programs\Startup for any files. Any programs in this area will execute any time the user logs in. If that is not it, then the system may be detecting new printer hardware upon each startup. I think Dell has free tech support. I recommend calling them at their 800# tech support line. Yeah thats true, I always forget about the startup stuff...[:(] |
|
1. Try what was posted above, and remove both printers, then do a restart. Let it detect the one, and only use it. 2. Limitations would be that of assigning internal IP addresses off your 1 "real" IP address issued by the DSL company. Most all routers will support up to 254 (cause one is not used, and one is for the router itself). Generally you see internal IP's as being 192.168.1.x where "x" is 0-255. Now, physically plugging in 30 computers means you need both a router and a switch (as I have yet to see a router with nearly that many ports). If your only concern is internet, and not having a fileserver/sharing rights, a hub ::might:: be cheaper than a large switch. But if they're close to the same price, use a switch. The way you would go about setting this up would be to hook up the DSL modem into the router's WAN port. If the router has a built in switch, you can use those for a few computers, but will then need to use the "uplink" port on either the router or the main switch/hub to connect to a standard port on the other device. The switch/hub can then connect the remaining stations, or if you want, you can actually hook up multiple hubs/switches after the router. The router doesn't care if there are more switches/hubs after it, what it does is assigns internal ip addresses when a computer requests one (DHCP server is the name for it). Where I work, We are running 19 workstations and 1 server using this method. We currently use file sharing, centralized databases, etc... with this many computers hooked up, it's a royal PITA to manage (access rights and such on each computer). I would HIGHLY recommend that if you will be doing more than just internet, such as file sharing, access rights, or other more in depth use of the network... that you get windows 2000 advanced server or greater. Also, as a business operating system, 2k pro would be a major step up in security and stability from the consumer version of windows. Anyhow, good luck... A good site to frequent for computer tech issues is www.overclockers.com or their forums at forum.oc-forums.com. |
|
I don't think anyone uses it any more, but Netbui protocol used in an environment over 15-20 machines would slow things down. The DSL routers designed for home use very likely have a limitation of how many IP's or virtual addresses it can generate. My printer solution had already been given, but I'll say it again. Remove both printers, let the pc install it. I've had to add printers by force, then once the right driver has been loaded, it found itself the right way the next time. Isn't plug and pray wonderful? |
|
A client-server based network will require more administration (and $$$) but provide much greater security than the peer-to-peer network you're planning now. I would rather see you use private IP addresses than NetBUI which has been know to be quite chatty. Install TCP/IP, enable print and file sharing, set everyone's machine to the same workgroup and reboot everything. The speed (10/100/1G) of the network and the types of applications will decide the overall feel of the network. |
|
Make sure this Brother printer did not have any application installed with the drivers that will load on startup and therefore keeps re-asserting the need for the printer. Regarding your network, are you using Netbui or IP's? Regardless, I suggest setting up that router to assign IP's on the LAN interface and have all your computers set to get dynamic IP's. Of course if you wish, you can manually setup IP's for each computer, but I don't see a need to do something so tedious. To do all this however, you need to make sure that DSL router is really a router and not just a bridge. If it's a bridge I suggest getting something like a Linksys router and using it to do DHCP for your network. |
|
-UPDATE- AR15.com cracks me up. I was showing a Sgt some of the responses, and he was surprised that I posted this type of question on a weapons site. Ok, I removed both printers, and it found it, again. But, after removing it, and all seemed well, but I could not increase the quality past 300 dpi. I went to the Brother web site, and followed the directions, EXACTLY! It installs the printer, and here we go again. The printer I set up with Brothers software goes up to 600 dpi and looks good. Mute, how do I do a selective start up in XP? I have determined that I don't like XP. I want to do something similar to "msconfig" in 98. Wife is going to get back to me today on what computers they are going to order. I need a beer. Art in KY |
|
Quoted: -UPDATE- AR15.com cracks me up. I was showing a Sgt some of the responses, and he was surprised that I posted this type of question on a weapons site. Ok, I removed both printers, and it found it, again. But, after removing it, and all seemed well, but I could not increase the quality past 300 dpi. I went to the Brother web site, and followed the directions, EXACTLY! It installs the printer, and here we go again. The printer I set up with Brothers software goes up to 600 dpi and looks good. Mute, how do I do a selective start up in XP? I have determined that I don't like XP. I want to do something similar to "msconfig" in 98. Wife is going to get back to me today on what computers they are going to order. I need a beer. Art in KY Go to the START->SETTINGS->PRINTERS...right click the printer and click on printer preferences. Click advanced. Go to print quality and change it...at least thats how it is on my computer. Or delete both printers again and just install the software...or when you reboot tell it you have the disks. That should so it I think. Can't help you with the startup. Sorry. |
|
Quoted: I have determined that I don't like XP. You are kidding right???? Mute, how do I do a selective start up in XP? I want to do something similar to "msconfig" in 98. All windows versions > Win95 include msconfig. You'll find it here (XP): \windows\pchealth\helpctr\binaries\msconfig.exe Good luck |