cropka

Q: How do I connect Mac to PC Printer?

Hi

 

I have a MacBook Pro and am trying to connect to my network PC Printer. I have followed all available instructions and they printer appears shared. It appears on my Mac and I can send jobs to print and it says it is printing but nothing comes out.

 

Help.

MacBook Pro

Posted on Apr 2, 2012 7:24 PM

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Q: How do I connect Mac to PC Printer?

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  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Apr 2, 2012 7:36 PM in response to cropka
    Level 5 (7,957 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 2, 2012 7:36 PM in response to cropka

    Details please. What printer, make and model? Describe your configuration.

  • by cropka,

    cropka cropka Apr 2, 2012 7:45 PM in response to Lanny
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 2, 2012 7:45 PM in response to Lanny

    It is a Canon MX310 printer with Fax and Scanner.  Wireless Connectivity.  Windows 7 PC.  I am not the most tech savy, but the Printer is attached to the PC and my Mac and PC are on the same Network.

     

    Does this help?

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Apr 2, 2012 8:05 PM in response to cropka
    Level 5 (7,957 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 2, 2012 8:05 PM in response to cropka

    Well the specs for the printer don't mention anything about wireless connection capabilities, so how are you accomplishing that?

     

    If your connection is wireless, why is your printer attached to the PC and the Mac?

     

    Please clarify.

  • by alecfromtampa,

    alecfromtampa alecfromtampa Apr 2, 2012 8:10 PM in response to cropka
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Apr 2, 2012 8:10 PM in response to cropka

    It sounds like your printer is connected to your pc. Your pc is connected to the home network, But it doesnt sound like the printer is connected to the network. Try connecting the printer with a cable to the mac. Or Verify that your printer has wireless capabilities. Your printer needs to be able to connect to the wiresless router on its own, not through your pc.

  • by cropka,

    cropka cropka Apr 2, 2012 8:11 PM in response to Lanny
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 2, 2012 8:11 PM in response to Lanny

    Sorry Lanny

     

    The network connection is wireless - the printer is not. It is attached to the PC.

     

    I have been told I should then be able to set my Mac up to share the PC Printer??

     

    As I said, I am not the most tech savy so my terminology could be ?????

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Apr 2, 2012 8:17 PM in response to cropka
    Level 5 (7,957 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 2, 2012 8:17 PM in response to cropka

    If the printer is attached to the PC, then you would need to set up the PC, not the Mac, for printer sharing. I'm not familiar with Windows 7's printer sharing setup, but there must be a procedure for it.  After that the printer should be available to your Mac.

  • by alecfromtampa,

    alecfromtampa alecfromtampa Apr 2, 2012 8:20 PM in response to cropka
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Apr 2, 2012 8:20 PM in response to cropka

    If it doesnt show up after you share the printer, try this

    .     

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3049

  • by cropka,

    cropka cropka Apr 2, 2012 8:35 PM in response to Lanny
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 2, 2012 8:35 PM in response to Lanny

    Hey Lanny

     

    Thanks for your help.

     

    I have done a combination of the things you have said.  Most I had done before, however not sure what I did different now that fixed it.

     

    Now i can print if I connect the printer cable to the Mac but not through sharing with my PC.  Should I be able to do this. I dont want to have to keep swapping the cable and thought I should be able to set it up through sharing.

  • by John Galt,Helpful

    John Galt John Galt Apr 2, 2012 8:47 PM in response to cropka
    Level 8 (49,434 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 2, 2012 8:47 PM in response to cropka

    If Lanny doesn't mind, I'd suggest leaving your printer connected to your Mac, and enable Printer Sharing on your Mac. It is much easier than trying to make that work on a PC.

     

    On the Mac:  menu > System Preferences > Sharing:

     

    Screen Shot 2012-04-02 at 11.41.54 PM.png

     

    Click the box for "Printer Sharing". Then, click the button "Open Print & Scan Preferences", select the printer, and check the box "Share this printer on the network".

     

    On the PC: Download and install Bonjour Print Services for Windows. It makes using shared printers easy, much easier than trying to configure your PC as a print server.

  • by Lanny,Helpful

    Lanny Lanny Apr 2, 2012 8:47 PM in response to cropka
    Level 5 (7,957 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 2, 2012 8:47 PM in response to cropka

    Yes, you should be able to either hook the printer to the PC and use printer sharing on the PC, or hook the printer to the Mac and use printer sharing on the Mac.

     

    After sharing is turned on either one, it should be available to the other.

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Apr 2, 2012 8:50 PM in response to cropka
    Level 5 (7,957 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 2, 2012 8:50 PM in response to cropka

    Yes, I'm in agreement with John Galt, it is easier to do from the Mac side, assuming that you can add the printer from the PC side.

  • by cropka,

    cropka cropka Apr 2, 2012 8:53 PM in response to John Galt
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 2, 2012 8:53 PM in response to John Galt

    Thanks all.. It seems to me that I may be the problem and not the functionality!! so will try all that you have said.  I agree, it seems the MAC to printer and share to PC would be good, but sadly I have a hubby who is anti Mac and wants his beloved PC in the office as the main Hub and my MAC is the mover and shaker.  So I will keep on working on the sharing and in the interim plug the cable in the mac..

     

    I am sure it is something simple as the printer is showing shared everyone and all other boxes are ticked.

     

    Thanks heaps for time and help.

  • by Lanny,

    Lanny Lanny Apr 2, 2012 8:59 PM in response to cropka
    Level 5 (7,957 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 2, 2012 8:59 PM in response to cropka

    You may want to check to see if your wireless router has a USB printer connection too.

  • by John Galt,

    John Galt John Galt Apr 2, 2012 9:03 PM in response to cropka
    Level 8 (49,434 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 2, 2012 9:03 PM in response to cropka

    Have your hubby consider this advantage: you can leave your printer attached to your MacBook Pro, and as long as it is not shut down (i.e. it can either be "on" or sleeping, just not shut down cold) and he wants to print something, your MacBook will wake up, process the print job, and go back to sleep without any intervention on anyone's part. All you need to do is enable "wake for network access" in Energy Saver.

     

    Newer MacBooks will do this even when the clamshell is closed, as long as it is connected to power.

     

    You also need a router compatible with Bonjour, most newer ones are as well as all AirPort Base Stations of course.

     

    Can't do that on a PC.

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