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Hello,

Kubuntu host and win 2000 guest.

My printer is connected to an USB port.

When I in the guest os connect to that USB port, a Windows dialog says new hardware detected and wants to install drivers for that printer.

Shall I go on and install drivers or is there another way to get the printer working in the guest os.

Fred

fred6633 wrote:Kubuntu host and win 2000 guest.

My printer is connected to an USB port.

When I in the guest os connect to that USB port, a Windows dialog says new hardware detected and wants to install drivers for that printer.

Shall I go on and install drivers or is there another way to get the printer working in the guest os.

You don't want to go down this path: whenever you allow guest to use USB port, it becomes unavailable to host OS.

What you want to do is to install samba on your Kubuntu and setup it so that it allows remote printing to your printer. Then setup printing in Windows so that it uses 'network' printer from your host OS as if it was a completely separate machine.

Thanks,

Then setup printing in Windows so that it uses 'network' printer from your host OS as if it was a completely separate machine.

Is that complicated?

But if I do want to use the printer in the guest os by allowing it to use the USB port, then I need to install drivers in the guest os?

I will print very rarely in the guest os and if it's just to disconnect from the USB port when I've finished printing, it's no problem if the printer is unavailable for the host os a short while.

Fred

You need the printer anyway, so install it for now.

There are plenty of Samba tutorials on the web. The default settings should already share your printer, you just need a valid Samba user and you're done.

Thanks,
I will try to get some information of Samba.

In the add new printer wizard in Windows I shall, from what I understand, select network printer. It's here I am lost.

Fred

fred6633 wrote:Thanks,
I will try to get some information of Samba.

In the add new printer wizard in Windows I shall, from what I understand, select network printer. It's here I am lost.

Actually, do it the other way around: first set up Samba. When it's done, you can open Windows explorer in your Guest OS, browse the network until you find your Host OS and select (double click) the shared printer there. Probably Windows will ask you about the driver whereabouts and then point it to CD or where ever you have drivers. Or you can even try to let Windows find the driver on the net.
This way you don't have to do the printer setup manually.

Thanks a lot,

I will give it a try.

Fred