Wireless printing on non-wireless printer

[HennaDancer]

I have a Canon MP280, which is easily the best color printer I've owned. I use the photos for outdoor display and even on cheap photo paper got prints that have stood up to weeks of direct sunlight with no visible fading , and even got lightly rained on with no streaking. Now I want to use it with my laptop, but apparently it doesn't have wireless capability, so I have to either create everything I want to print on my old desktop, or bring the laptop over to the printed and USB cord it, which I really don't have space for.
A few printers ago, I was told by a salesperson that so long as the two computers involved are linked using the same wireless router, I should be able to print from my laptop somehow through the desktop which is USB wired to the printer. My laptop is wireless and the desktop is hardwired to the same wireless router. Is the workaround possible? If so, what do I do?
Thanks!

[johnpost]

the computers can see one another on the network if setup to do so. you then transfer files from laptop to desktop and print from there.

what operating systems are on the laptop and desktop?

[HennaDancer]

Desktop is Windows XP, I think, and laptop is Windows 7.

[njtt]

Originally Posted by johnpost

the computers can see one another on the network if setup to do so. you then transfer files from laptop to desktop and print from there.

what operating systems are on the laptop and desktop?

It is certainly possible to do better than that. I used to have a wireless network setup like the one the one HennaDancer is asking for - where you could print directly over the wireless network provided that the computer actually connected to the printer was switched on - and that was back in the days of Windows XP (actually, IIRC, the server computer, the one actually connected to the printer was still running Windows Me). The original setup was a bit of a bear, but it ought to be relatively easy these days with more modern, more network oriented operating systems.

Once you have the computers themselves networked, it is a matter (IIRC) of installing the printer driver on the non-connected computer, and setting it appropriately. (Also, you have to enable sharing for the printer, I think.)

[HennaDancer]

Suggestions on how to network them? I have the drivers on both now.

[njtt]

Originally Posted by HennaDancer

Desktop is Windows XP, I think, and laptop is Windows 7.

That will make setting up the network harder, but it should still be possible. It might be best to get some on-the-spot help from someone who knows what they are doing. Wireless network setup can be confusing and complicated.

[carnivorousplant]

The PC connected to the printer "shares" it. That is in "properties" under the printer icon. I'd try that first. Windows XP delights in sharing on a network, Windows 7 doesn't want to do it at all.

I have a device at work that connects to the printer LPT port and makes it wireless. That might be the way to go.

A Google search doesn't show my device. Here are some others.

[BACI]

I use an Airport Express (which I believe works with Windows) to wirelessly print to my old printer. The Airport Express has a USB port to which I have connected the printer. Zero setup, works flawlessly every time, costs around $100 from memory.

[Marconi N. Cheese]

I'm a little late to the party, but I use a D-Link 1260 wireless print server. I've only got one printer (Canon Pixma 5000) connected to it (can handle 4). It has an ethernet port for bridging, so it services a wired xp desktop, a wireless vista laptop, and a wireless win 7 starter netbook. I've also printed to it with my phone. I think I paid $60-80 for it a couple of years ago at Office Depot. It's not perfect, (I suggest assigning a static IP to it right off the bat) but it works pretty well for such a cheap price.

[Folacin]

they're on the same network, so it should be pretty simple.

As stated, on your XP desktop, set the printer to "share". Not exactly sure where you need to go to do that, but IIRC there is a "printers" entry under control panel, you should be able to find your printer there. Probably a right-click on it will get you to properties (as someone said above).

On your W7 laptop, you'll probably have a "devices and printers" options in your start menu (otherwise, it's in control panel). Click on "Add a printer", then "add a network or bluetooth". If you did the sharing thing appropriately on the hardwired PC, it should eventually find it. Select it, and you should be good to go.

This is the setup we have at home (although the "print server" is now a W7 PC) - we've got three wireless PCs printing to it. You do need to have the printer PC on, of course.