Help Connecting MacBook Pro to HP C4680 printer on home network.

[RITTyger]

Hello. I'm brand new to this forum, and Mac's as a whole. I'm trying to connect our new MacBook Pro to a HP Photosmart C4680 printer through a wireless network that we purchased yesterday. Both the MacBook and printer were purchased through at the Apple store.

Here is our setup:

HP printer is shared, but is connected via USB to a Dell desktop. I have successfully been able to print from my Dell laptop through our home's wireless network. Both the Dell desktop and laptops are on Vista.

I'm managed to figure out how to add a printer, but I'm at a loss for where I should be seeing the HP as an option to add. I've tried using the IP address of the desktop the HP is connected to, but it doesn't come up.

I'd like to know if there is a main place to add a printer on a Mac. I added it by opening Keynote, then attempting to print a doc, then adding the printer. I've managed to add two "ghost" printers and I'd like to remove them because what I did obviously isn't working.

Also, I've already loaded the drivers and software for the HP directly onto the MacBook. I did this before trying to print wirelessly. I was able to print if the HP was connected to the MacBook via the USB cable.

I appreciate your help to the new guy!

 

[Maxpilot]

I don't think you can get a Mac to use a printer on a Windows network. What you need is a printer server such as the Airport Express. Then all your computer could use it via wireless.

 

[RITTyger]

The wireless network is through a Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router. Does that make any difference?

What is Airport Express?

If I add a printer via IPP, I can type in the IP address of my desktop, and then it adds a "Generic Post Script Printer". I can then choose to use HP Photosmart C4600 series drivers, but when I try to print nothing happens.

 

[TavoElChingon]

Follow these instructions.

http://macs.about.com/od/macwindows/ss/sharewinprinter.htm

 

[RITTyger]

Thank you for that link. However, the printer is connected to a desktop running Vista but I found the applicable topic, and I'm still haven't trouble.

Using this link,
http://macs.about.com/od/macwindows/ss/printsharevista_6.htm

I run into issues on page 6, step 6. First, how do you right-click on a Mac? Secondly, if you read down it eventually tells you to select "Windows". Well, when I press the '+' button, it brings up a table with the following options: Default, Fax, IP, Windows, Bluetooth, AppleTalk and More Printers.

If I select Windows, nothing comes up, and the boxes under the Name, Location and Print Using locations are not editable. I believe the workgroup name (default WORKGROUP) is suppose to show up in the left-most box, but nothing does.

Any more suggestions? This has been so frustrating!

 

[RITTyger]

i'm still not having any luck with this.

 

[Maxpilot]

The wireless network is through a Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router. Does that make any difference?

What is Airport Express?

If I add a printer via IPP, I can type in the IP address of my desktop, and then it adds a "Generic Post Script Printer". I can then choose to use HP Photosmart C4600 series drivers, but when I try to print nothing happens.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB321LL/A/AirPort-Express-AirTunes?fnode=MTY1NDA0Mg&mco=MjE0NDc0OQ

The Airport Express is a wireless router with a USB slot to plug in your printer.

 

[RITTyger]

Thanks, but between that link the other guy provided, or getting it to work via Bonjour, why would I need that? There has to be a way to get this to work without buying more hardware.

 

[Elbert C]

Thank you for that link. However, the printer is connected to a desktop running Vista but I found the applicable topic, and I'm still haven't trouble.

Using this link,
http://macs.about.com/od/macwindows/ss/printsharevista_6.htm

I run into issues on page 6, step 6. First, how do you right-click on a Mac? Secondly, if you read down it eventually tells you to select "Windows". Well, when I press the '+' button, it brings up a table with the following options: Default, Fax, IP, Windows, Bluetooth, AppleTalk and More Printers.

If I select Windows, nothing comes up, and the boxes under the Name, Location and Print Using locations are not editable. I believe the workgroup name (default WORKGROUP) is suppose to show up in the left-most box, but nothing does.

Any more suggestions? This has been so frustrating!

Pressing the Control key and clicking = Right click on a Mac.

After right clicking on the Toolbar a list of icons will drop down. Drag and drop the Advanced icon (looks like a gear) to the Toolbar and click on it. This is where you choose Windows from Type drop down list.

If you follow the directions correctly you will be able to print wireless from your MBP. I've done this with my PBG4 running OS X 10.4.11, an HP printer connected to a Dell using a Linksys router using similar instructions. It took me a few tries but I eventually got it.

 

[RITTyger]

Elbert, thank you very much. You truly are the man! I got it working, and only with your assistance. Thanks for shedding the light into that link, and helping me learn how to use a Mac.

 

[Elbert C]

That's great. Your very welcome.