Printing to a shared windows printer from windows-virtualbox

Discussions about using Windows guests in VirtualBox.
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Galaxy4
Posts: 2
Joined: 14. Sep 2015, 20:39

Printing to a shared windows printer from windows-virtualbox

Post by Galaxy4 »

I have an USB HP Lj 1018 printer connected in a Windows 7 and shared, open for everyone. My laptop is a Linux Mint 17.1 PC and Virtualbox Version 5.0.2 r102096
with windows 7 home premium is installed and working. I can print fine from all apps in Linux Mint. However I cannot add a printer to my virtualbox windows.
In windows network I can see this computer and VBOXSVR where my external drives are accessed through. I cannot see the windows workstation that is connected to the USB HP printer. Can anybody help me installing the shared printer in virtualbox windows?
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20945
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: VirtualBox+Oracle ExtPack
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: Printing to a shared windows printer from windows-virtua

Post by scottgus1 »

So you have a PC running Windows 7, and a shared printer on the PC. Your laptop is running Linux, and your guest is running Windows 7. The guest cannot see the printer.

You need to have your Virtualbox guest network attachment set to Bridged, so your guest appears to be another PC on your network. Then it will see the other network items, including the shared printer.

Be aware, though, that some wi-fi adapters don't work well with Bridged, due to poorly-written drivers. So if you do set to Bridged and can't connect via wi-fi, you may only be able to get the guest to see the network and the printer through the laptop's ethernet port, if it has one. Or you may be able to update your wi-fi adapter drivers.
Galaxy4
Posts: 2
Joined: 14. Sep 2015, 20:39

Re: Printing to a shared windows printer from windows-virtua

Post by Galaxy4 »

SOLVED!

Hi Scottgus1
Thank you very much for your help. Did what you said and workstation is visible and shared printer can be installed and of course it prints now.
You are a genius. So far I don't see a problem with my wifi or networking. Thanks a million
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