# ConnectPrinter to 2 computers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 2, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connectprinter-to-2-computers/342676 "2006-02-02T15:48:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connectprinter-to-2-computers/342676/1 "2006-02-02T15:48:31Z")
I need a solution that a retard could handle. I have two Dells and one HP printer. Can I buy something (say from Radio Shack) to connect both computers so that each can use the printer as needed? I installed my Epson scanner software in both computers and it would seem I needn’t link those. Correctamente? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connectprinter-to-2-computers/342676/2 "2006-02-02T15:52:39Z")
There are several possibilities but I need more data. Do you have a home network? Is it based on a router or hub? Does the Printer have an USB port and/or parallel port? They make routers that also share Printer Ports are easy to set up and would network your PC’s together and share a broadband connection. They make a variety of Network Printer ports that would hook to your Hub or router if they already exist. There are old fashion Print sharing A/B switches and even auto sensing ones. Jim ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connectprinter-to-2-computers/342676/3 "2006-02-02T15:52:59Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > I need a solution that a retard could handle. > > I have two Dells and one HP printer. Can I buy something (say from Radio Shack) to connect both computers so that each can use the printer as needed? > > I installed my Epson scanner software in both computers and it would seem I needn’t link those. Correctamente? Negativo! I guess I **do** need to link the scanner like the computer if I want to use them in each computer… ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connectprinter-to-2-computers/342676/4 "2006-02-02T15:53:44Z")
What is the printer interface? Is it USB or is it an old style printer port? USB is hot swappable. You can just unplug the printer cable from one computer and plug it into the other computer. The old style printer ports aren’t designed to be hot swappable. There used to be printer switch boxes, but a lot of printers use the port in a bi-directional mode and the driver gets all confused if the printer gets disconnected and reconnected from the port or won’t recognize that the printer is there if it’s not plugged in when the computer starts up. You can always network the computers together and make the printer shareable. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connectprinter-to-2-computers/342676/5 "2006-02-02T15:57:29Z")
> [@What Exit?](#): > > There are several possibilities but I need more data. > Do you have a home network? > Is it based on a router or hub? > Does the Printer have an USB port and/or parallel port? > > They make routers that also share Printer Ports are easy to set up and would network your PC’s together and share a broadband connection. > > They make a variety of Network Printer ports that would hook to your Hub or router if they already exist. > > There are old fashion Print sharing A/B switches and even auto sensing ones. > > Jim Thanks for your reply, Jim. I’m home-networked with a LinkSys Router (for 2 computers) Printer has a USB port. I think the Scanner does, too. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connectprinter-to-2-computers/342676/6 "2006-02-02T16:02:47Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > What is the printer interface? Is it USB or is it an old style printer port? > > USB is hot swappable. You can just unplug the printer cable from one computer and plug it into the other computer. > > The old style printer ports aren’t designed to be hot swappable. There used to be printer switch boxes, but a lot of printers use the port in a bi-directional mode and the driver gets all confused if the printer gets disconnected and reconnected from the port or won’t recognize that the printer is there if it’s not plugged in when the computer starts up. > > You can always network the computers together and make the printer shareable. I’m going to have to ask my son to answer your questions. He’s the geek in the family. His dad’s the dummy. Thank you, **engineer\_comp\_geek**. ---
**Author:** ![Frosted\_Glass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frosted_glass/32/3926_2.png) [@Frosted\_Glass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frosted_Glass)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connectprinter-to-2-computers/342676/7 "2006-02-02T16:03:10Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > Printer has a USB port. I think the Scanner does, too. If you are dealing with a USB Printer then you may find it convenient to purchase a USB switch. They are relatively inexpensive and it will prevent you from having to move a cable each time you switch computers. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connectprinter-to-2-computers/342676/8 "2006-02-02T16:06:27Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > Negativo! I guess I **do** need to link the scanner like the computer if I want to use them in each computer… Windows XP does not support [sharing of scanners over a network](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/304097/en-us?). ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connectprinter-to-2-computers/342676/9 "2006-02-02T16:08:44Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > Thanks for your reply, Jim. > > I’m home-networked with a LinkSys Router (for 2 computers) > Printer has a USB port. I think the Scanner does, too. The cheapest solution then is to share the printer from one PC to the other. [you can look for a device like this.](http://biz.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=485818&CatId=0) to network an USB printer. The Scanner I cannot help you with. I use my scanner on just one PC. I have never tried scanner sharing. You could install the software on both. Leave access to the scanners USB port easy to reach and buy a second USB cable and leave it run from the PC to the Scanner. Then plug in the PC you want to use. (Label the Cables) Cheap and relatively painless. Jim ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connectprinter-to-2-computers/342676/10 "2006-02-02T21:47:55Z")
HP is very grabby and rude. Their all-in-one printers are generally not shareable. However, you can side-step that - install the printer and its software on Computer A. On that computer, you can define the printer as shared to other users on your workgroup. On Computer B, tell it to look for a printer on Computer A, but rather than looking for a PSC-whatever, tell it to look for something like a DeskJet 820C. This way, you’ll be able to share the basic printing. As Fear Itself says, you won’t be able to share scanning, faxing, and you might have trouble sharing memory card slots. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2006, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/connectprinter-to-2-computers/342676/11 "2006-02-02T22:02:56Z")
Thank you all, very much. I’ll show this thread to my son, and I’m sure he can follow the directions.