using two same model printers on different wirelss networks from one laptop

[FalvinP]

My basic question is: Is it possible to use one laptop and connect to printers of the exact same model on two different wireless networks?

I have an HP C7180 all in one and my friend has the exact same model on his network at his business. He is able to use his printer at work, but we can't seem to get things set up for him to use my printer when he visits.

I run Vista home premium on my desktop machine. I recently acquired my parent's old WRT54G Linksys router. I successfully set up the network with my desktop connected via an ethernet cable from the cable modem to the router. Since I have no wireless devices, I had my friend come over with his laptop to ensure the wireless worked. It did.

Next, I wanted to set the printer up so that visitors who brought laptops to my house could print using my printer over the wireless network. I changed my HP C7180 All in One from from a usb to an ethernet connection by connecting the ethernet cable between the router and the printer. I then took out the HP installation disk for Vista and proceeded to install the printer over the network. Everything seemed to go ok as I successfully printed a short page.

My friend then needed to install my printer to his laptop. After connecting to my network he then proceeded to install the printer using my installation disk. He also runs Vista on his laptop. He tried installing the printer twice. Each time the installation couldn't complete. There was an error saying that the installation couldn't complete because another installation was still under way. He had to cancel the installation each of the two times he attempted it.

We think it might have something to do with that same model printer already installed on his laptop. Surprisingly, after the second installation attempt, his original C7180 printer disappeared from his list of available printers. We didn't check this after the first installation, so it may have been deleted after the first installation attempt.

He's going to have to reinstall his C7180 at work.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance for your help.

[EzyStvy]

Google-> another installation was still under way

Which is what the problem is.

If you get that resolved - this is a real nice link:

TCP/IP Printer Installation
TCP/IP Printer Installation

[edfair]

Multiples should be no problem. During creation of the second it will ask if you want to use the same driver.
Ezy is correct in that the first load corrupted. Probably needs to be removed and the installation started over from scratc.

[FalvinP]

Thank you both for your replies. I was so fixated on a potential problem with two identical printers that I failed to focus on the error message itself.

There seems to be an issue concerning this error message from time to time. The assortment of fixes ranges from fairly simple (changing a setting under computer management) to complicated (deleting duplicate processes, registry keys etc).

The error message notwithstanding, my friend seemed to think that we would have to assign a specific port for the printer. He's on to something because that is what seems to be suggested here.

[glc]

What would be BEST is to use the printer control panel to assign a static IP address to it, compatible with the specific network. That way, you can use a simple TCP/IP printer port.

My HP network printer is 192.168.1.222, because my network is 192.168.1.1 through 192.168.1.254. Yours would be the same if you are using a Linksys router.

[FalvinP]

Thanks GLC. That's exactly what my friend said we'd probably have to do. Once we get the error message resolved I"m sure it will happen.

[glc]

If your network and his network are both 192.168.1.x networks, you can assign the same IP to both printers and only have to install it once!