no communication with printer

Question

Lets see if i can give all info to resolve my problem. I started all over again with trying to get the X5690 Lexmark all in one printer that is connected to one PC and i want to be able to share it with mine. I used the wizard and got the driver loaded as well. Now i am not sure if i did this correctlly as i have it Peer to Peer. When i tried to print it gives me a window stating

Communication Not Available

Check the following

The host computer is on and directly connected to the the printer

The host computer can print to the printer

The printer is shown as Shared in the printers folder on the host computer

Check your firewall settings to ensure printer communication is not blocked

if you have not solved the problem, restart your computere and the host computer

then for additional assistance use the lexmark service center

well the only thing i am looking at that i wasnt sure of was the firewall part but the rest all checked off..

i have windows 7 on both computers and they are both a Gateway.

any help into what i am doing wrong or what i should be doing i have been looking thru lexmark but their is no help there

ready to tear my hair out!!

Answer 1

Hi  Satinrose,

**Step 1:**Ensure that File and Printer and sharing are allowed through Windows Firewall on both the computers. To do this, follow the steps mentioned below

a)   Click on  Start > type in Windows Firewall in the search box and select Windows Firewall from the list

b)   Click on “Allow a program or feature to communicate through Windows Firewall” on the left pane

c)   Now, select or allow “File and Printer and sharing” option and click OK

If you are using any other Firewall Program or security program, you may want to check the program manufacturer’s website to configure this setting.

**Note:**Configure this settings only if you trust the source  of the network

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What are the risks of allowing programs through a firewall?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/What-are-the-risks-of-allowing-programs-through-a-firewall

You may refer the steps mentioned in the link below

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Allow a program to communicate through Windows Firewall

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Allow-a-program-to-communicate-through-Windows-Firewall

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Step 2: To fix Communication Not Available issue **,**you may follow the steps provided in the  Lexmark support link  

To add and share a printer on a network, you may refer the steps mentioned in the links below

Share a printer

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Share-a-printer

Video: Sharing a printer at home

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help/videos/sharing-a-printer

Find and install printer drivers

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Find-and-install-printer-drivers

Thanks and Regards:

Ajay K

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Answer 2

Hi Satinrose,

Glad to know that you have sorted out the issue!

Thanks and Regards:

Ajay K

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Answer 3

well with many googling it i found a post that gave me my solution to my problem.. and my printer works... this problem is solved

Answer 4

Well i have followed all of that and i couldnt find in Norton where i was to allow to let the printer be recongized thru firewall and i have deleted the printer from my computer and then added it again ... i have had no luck .. i even changed the names of the two computers so they wouldnt have the same one... nothing.. i read to leave the homegroup for both computers then join homegroup .. i havent done that yet.. i watched tutorials and read on how to join a homegroup when adding a printer but i dont see a button telling me that i have that option when i got the computer i just went and put that i was going to share printer... this is driving me crazy but i guess i will try and figure it out