network configuration question

[ixfd64]

I am currently using wi-fi to access the Internet. A while ago, I set up my laptop to allow printing over a wired network. However, my laptop tries to access the Internet through the wired connection by default. Since the cable is not connected to a router, I am unable to access the Internet when the printer cable is plugged in.

I do not want to have to plug and unplug the cable every time I need to print something. Is there a way to make the computer look for a wi-fi connection if if the wired one does not work? I am using Windows XP, by the way.

Thanks.

[MrBlackCat]

This can be dependent on the communication method to the printer. What protocol does the printer communication use? If it doesn’t use TCP/IP protocol to communicate with the printer, just disable that protocol for the Wired Connection and it should try to use it as a resource for Internet Access.

If you do not know how to do this, let me know and I can easily walk you through it for XP.

If it does use TCP/IP let me know and I will give you another workaround.

This is theory, I did not test this by the way. I know I have resolved this different ways at different times over the years though. Common problem in offices with lots of mixed systems and many protocols and two or three LAN cards in a given machine for instance.

MrBlackCat

[NutWrench]

I am currently using wi-fi to access the Internet. A while ago, I set up my laptop to allow printing over a wired network. However, my laptop tries to access the Internet through the wired connection by default. Since the cable is not connected to a router, I am unable to access the Internet when the printer cable is plugged in.

You're accessing the printer through the ethernet cable? :confused:

[ixfd64]

Yeah, the connection is TCP/IP, I think.

[NutWrench]

That's weird. Every printer I've ever used was USB, wireless or connected through the parallel printer port.

Do you know your printer's IP address? (http://uis.georgetown.edu/software/documentation/winxp/winxp.network.printer.html)

[MrBlackCat]

Most of the offices I service have Wired LAN printers. Is common for business environments in my experience. Many offices avoid security issues of wireless systems this way, and a few times I have seen USB over Ethernet... this overcomes distance issues of USB in offices with shared printers.

MrBlackCat

[Dopefish7590]

Well... If you want, you could connect the printer directly to a switch. Most switches are built right onto the router people use to connect to the Internet on their computers, but some are separate. If you only have a router, chances are the switch is built right in.

After you have connected your printer to the switch, hold the [Windows Key] and tap [R] on your computer... A dialog should appear, in it type "cmd" (Without the quotes, obviously) and hit [Enter]. A black box should appear. In it type "ipconfig" and hit [Enter]. A few IP addresses should show up, we are looking for the one that says "Default Gateway". Note the IP address next to it. (It should say 192.168.x.x with the "x" being numbers.)

Open a web browser and type this IP address into the Address bar and hit [Enter]...

From here, most Switch/Router firmwares are considerably different. I can't really say much more other than look around for the Printer's IP address in the firmware. If it asks for a password (Some routers/switches have default passwords), common defaults are:

Usernames: (More common to less common.)
<blank>
admin
administrator
<Your ISP's name>

Passwords: (Most common to least common)
<blank>
password
<your ISP's name>
admin

After you figure out the Printer's IP address, Depending on your Windows Version you may have to set it up differently. In Vista and 7, go "Start" > "Devices and Printers" and right click the window that opens and click "Add new printer", follow the dialogs and when it asks, choose "IP Printing" after you do this enter in your Printer's IP address as found on the switch/router. On XP, IIRC (This is all from memory as I am not currently on Windows. :o) Go "Start" > "Control Panel" > "Classic view" (If not in it already) > "Printers" > "Add". Then, follow the dialogs again. When it asks, click "IP Printing" and enter the IP of the printer.

Enjoy simultaneous internet and printing!
Hope this helps. :D

[ixfd64]

Thanks for the advice, Dopefish7590.

I'm at my landlady's house (where the printer is) during the weekdays, and I don't have a switch at the moment. I guess I'll have to look for an extra one when I'm home.

Is there a way to make Windows XP try both the wired and wireless connections, though?

[Dopefish7590]

If the two don't work when they are both connected, it's hard to say what you can do as this can be caused by a number of things... The most common one though, is an IRQ conflict. You can look in the Device Manager (Explained in my first post) under "Network Adapters" for your two devices, see if they are both assigned the same IRQ in their properties. (Double click the device to open this.)

If they are fine, I heard you could try bridging the connections. To be honest, I'm not exactly sure how that would work because bridging works at the Data Link OSI layer with the MAC Addresses, but people have said this should fix it. (Doubt it though.)