Network Printer Problem

I have a 2-computer network in my home. When I try to print from my
DOWNSTAIRS computer to the Canon i550 printer attached to my UPSTAIRS
computer, I get the message:

There was an error writing to \\UPSTAIRS\Canon i550 for printer (Canon i550)
The network name cannot be found.
The printer will be set to work offline.

What is confounding is that I successfully installed the printer, which
is attached to my upstairs computer, on my downstairs computer using the
printer install wizard. It successfully installed, including
downloading all the drivers (since I'm running Win 98 downstairs and XP
upstairs, I had to install the Win 98 drivers upstairs so the correct
drivers would install downstairs). I checked to make sure that both
computers are using the same workgroup name. I can print successfully
to the printer from the upstairs computer, but cannot print to it from
any application downstairs. The printer troubleshooter was no help.
Anyone have an idea what "The network name cannot be found" means?

Do you have a folder shared out on the XP system? If not, share one out and
then before printing, double-click the folder and be sure that you can
access files. If you can, then print and see if that is successful.

It's possible that if no one is using the XP system that it has gone to
sleep and is not waking up fast enough when you try to print and the job is
timing out.

PattyL


"Jim Colletti" wrote in message
...
I have a 2-computer network in my home. When I try to print from my
DOWNSTAIRS computer to the Canon i550 printer attached to my UPSTAIRS
computer, I get the message:

There was an error writing to \\UPSTAIRS\Canon i550 for printer (Canon
i550)
The network name cannot be found.
The printer will be set to work offline.

What is confounding is that I successfully installed the printer, which
is attached to my upstairs computer, on my downstairs computer using the
printer install wizard. It successfully installed, including
downloading all the drivers (since I'm running Win 98 downstairs and XP
upstairs, I had to install the Win 98 drivers upstairs so the correct
drivers would install downstairs). I checked to make sure that both
computers are using the same workgroup name. I can print successfully
to the printer from the upstairs computer, but cannot print to it from
any application downstairs. The printer troubleshooter was no help.
Anyone have an idea what "The network name cannot be found" means?

Sorry I haven't responded earlier - was away on vacation. I can access
files from either computer on the other one, no problem. That's not the
solution.

PattyL wrote:
Do you have a folder shared out on the XP system? If not, share one out and
then before printing, double-click the folder and be sure that you can
access files. If you can, then print and see if that is successful.

It's possible that if no one is using the XP system that it has gone to
sleep and is not waking up fast enough when you try to print and the job is
timing out.

PattyL


"Jim Colletti" wrote in message
...

I have a 2-computer network in my home. When I try to print from my
DOWNSTAIRS computer to the Canon i550 printer attached to my UPSTAIRS
computer, I get the message:

There was an error writing to \\UPSTAIRS\Canon i550 for printer (Canon

i550)

The network name cannot be found.
The printer will be set to work offline.

What is confounding is that I successfully installed the printer, which
is attached to my upstairs computer, on my downstairs computer using the
printer install wizard. It successfully installed, including
downloading all the drivers (since I'm running Win 98 downstairs and XP
upstairs, I had to install the Win 98 drivers upstairs so the correct
drivers would install downstairs). I checked to make sure that both
computers are using the same workgroup name. I can print successfully
to the printer from the upstairs computer, but cannot print to it from
any application downstairs. The printer troubleshooter was no help.
Anyone have an idea what "The network name cannot be found" means?