Printer Sharing Security Settings

Question

I'm not sure if this is more of a security or a sharing issue but I cannot get a printer, which is physically connected to my Win7 Ultimate desktop machine, to print from my Mac (there is a thread related to this issue elsehwere on here and I tried all of those suggestions).  I beleive my problem is with settings under "Devices and Printers".  When I go there and right click on the printer I am trying to share, then select "Printer Properties", under the "Sharing" tab a lot of information is greyed out - I believe I need to make those opotions active.  There is a large button labeled "Change Sharing Options" and options with checkboxes below that;  those options,   "Share this printer" and "Render print jobs on client computers", are greyed out, as is some text and its accompanying button further below and the "Apply" button at the bottom right.  How do I set permissions (or whatever I have to do) such that those options and all that other stuff that is greyed out becomes active? (I am logged in as the administrator).

Answer 1

Hey,

Let us know the model and make of your computer.

If you have a printer attached to your computer, you can share it with anyone on the same network. It doesn't matter what type of printer you have, as long it's installed on your computer and is directly attached with a USB cable or other type of printer cable. The people you choose to share the printer with will be able to use it to print, as long as they first locate your computer on the network.

Printers that are directly connected to a network rather than attached to a computer are available to anyone on the same network. Such printers must have a network port or wireless connection that allows them to connect directly to the network.

Step 1:

To share a printer, I suggest you to make sure the settings to share printer are set correctly as mentioned in the below link:

Share a printer

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/Windows7/Share-a-printer

For your info:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/File-and-printer-sharing-frequently-asked-questions

Step 2:

Try these steps

On the Windows 7 PC:

1. In Windows 7 Control Panel
2. Select "Programs and Features" pane
3. Click "Turn Windows Features on or off"
4. Turn on the LPD protocol.
5. Ensure printer(s) are shared 

On the Mac:

1. Start Applications/Utilities/Printer Setup Utility
2. Hold down the "Option" key and click the "More Printers" button
3. From the top menu select "Advanced"
4. From the "Device:" field select "LPD/LPR Host or Printer"
5. In the "Device URL:" lpd://PCName/PrinterShareName
6. Click the "Add" button

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Install-a-printer-on-a-home-network

Step 3:

Also, temporarily disable the firewall and check:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Understanding-Windows-Firewall-settings

Note: Do enable it back once you are done with the test.

Regards,

Savan – Microsoft Support.

Answer 2

Thanks for that reply, I did finally get it (more or less) up and running - at this point it is a matter of working with HP to get the correct Mac drivers, but at least the three machines are communicatins and something comes out of the printer when I initiate a job from the Mac.  I ended up deleting that printer (Officejet 7300 series, all in one) from the Win 7 environment and re-installling.  My problem was that everything was greyed out under the "Sharing" and "Security" tabs for that printer's Printer Properties (ie, Win 7 did not want to allow me to let other machines on the network access that printer, even though the other machines could see it).