[SOLVED] Can't Setup A Windows Guest Printer

[stevedude]

I'm running Ubuntu Natty using VirtualBox 4.0.8 and using Windows XP SP3 as the guest on my VB machine. I have 2 desktop computers, 1 of them is my Ubuntu Natty machine and the other is a Windows 7 Professional Desktop that has a Brother HL-2140 printer attached to it (I have a MacBook Pro laptop too, but that is not relevant to this issue). I want to be able to access that printer that is attached to the Windows 7 desktop in the VirtualBox with WIndows XP.

I can access all of the Windows 7 shares from Ubuntu with no problems and also the Brother printer. I have tried all of the VB settings under "Network" and only a Bridged Connection allows me to see the printer when I run the Windows XP new printer setup wizard for network attached printers. As I progress through the Wizard, I am finally presented with a window to install the printer driver, when I click OK, it tells me I need to specify a location for the driver. [SEE ATTACHMENT]

I have downloaded the printer driver directly from the Brother website onto a folder in the Windows XP VirtualBox machine. When I point to that driver, I always get a message that states "Windows cannot locate a suitable printer driver. Contact your administrator for help with locating and installing a suitable driver."

I'm certain I have the correct driver. Even if I try to use the original driver CD that came with the printer, I get the same error. I suspect I need to change some sort of setting. Anyone have an idea on what I need to do? Thanks!

[stevedude]

*Bump*

It's been 4 days and I still can't seem to find an answer on the interwebs specific to my issue. Anyone have an idea?

Thanks

[Perryg]

I can access all of the Windows 7 shares from Ubuntu with no problems and also the Brother printer. I have tried all of the VB settings under "Network" and only a Bridged Connection allows me to see the printer when I run the Windows XP new printer setup wizard for network attached printers

The question is do you see all of the shares in the XP guest, and can you actually access them?
Two things to try:
1) temporarily turn off the Windows 7 firewall.
2) I have seen Windows live cause this issue as well where you can see but not access anything. Repeatedly asking for a password but not accepting it.

[stevedude]

I can access all of the Windows 7 shares from Ubuntu with no problems and also the Brother printer. I have tried all of the VB settings under "Network" and only a Bridged Connection allows me to see the printer when I run the Windows XP new printer setup wizard for network attached printers

The question is do you see all of the shares in the XP guest, and can you actually access them?
Two things to try:
1) temporarily turn off the Windows 7 firewall.
2) I have seen Windows live cause this issue as well where you can see but not access anything. Repeatedly asking for a password but not accepting it.

That's the weird thing. Everything that is shared on the Windows 7 desktop is accessible. As the prior screenshot shows, it appears I can access the printer too (at least it "sees" it), however, when I want to install the driver, that is when I get the error.

I have downloaded the driver to the Windows XP virtualbox, and I have the original CD, but it won't let me install the driver with either method. I've even added an XP driver to the Windows 7 printer drivers with no luck.

Enclosed are the message boxes I receive during the install. When I locate the driver path, I received the first message box and I click OK. Then after it tries to install the driver, the second message box listed then appears.

[Sasquatch]

On the machine that has the printer shared, go to the Printer Properties, then on the Sharing tab click on Additional Drivers. There, you enable to the Windows XP drivers, or enable the 32 bit drivers (in case W7 is 64 bit). You might need to install the drivers for XP first. Review the Help file or your favourite search engine for more information on how to add drivers to be used for clients.

[stevedude]

Thank you Sasquatch !!!

It seemed odd to me that even though I had the printer driver on the Win XP system, that it would not install from there, but from the Windows 7 desktop as you suggested. I tried the method that you stated, which I also found on Microsoft's website: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/libr ... 32946.aspx

Unfortunately for me, this method did not work - - - BUT - - - I knew there had to be another way so instead of trying to add an additional driver to the Brother HL-2140 printer (I needed a 32-bit Win XP driver) on the 64-bit Windows 7 desktop, I created a new printer on the Windows 7 system. I installed the new printer with the 32-bit Win XP driver and when I launched Virtualbox and started the Add New Printer wizard, the new printer showed-up in my printer list even before I could complete the setup wizard.

Your information was invaluable. Thank you once again for your time and effort. VB is a great product and provides a much-needed service.
This issue is SOLVED