AX1500- new PC can't see local printer on other PC on home network
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Not sure how to determine hardware version. On Box it says V1.6. Logged into the router and in system it says V1.2
OK, here's the problem. I have a home network with 3 Dell desktops, a network printer, and 2 Roku boxes for my TV.
I recently replaced a very old desktop (with Vista OS) with a new Dell Inspiron with W11.
But my main business Dell is running W8.1. I'll slowly port over stuff to the new Dell.
The old Dell has a local printer attached with a USB cable. My other not new Dell also has a local printer.
The new Dell with W11 seems to work with my AX1500. That is, it has no trouble going to web sites and it sees my network printer. But, it can't see the other 2 Dells over the network.
For both of the other 2 Dells which both have local printers- I went into network sharing and indicated I want to share those local printers without use of passwords.
On the newest Dell, it has no trouble seeing and installing the one network printer but it can't seem to see the other Dells to install their local printers.
Well, after trying all the methods to install the local printers- I did get to the point that- I think anyway- that it sees my main PC- at least it sees its name which is HOTROD. When I ask the newest Dell to open up HOTROD to see what's on it to share the printer- it can't do it. It's possible it really can't see it at all- only remembering that at one point I entered that computer's name when trying the "manual" method. When I keep trying with the manual method- at some point it wants me to enter the full name of the older Dell and the name of the printer- then when I do that, it asks for my credentials. After a long effort to figure out the credentials and I tried again, it struggled and struggled and struggled and gave up. I think the newest Dell simply isn't see my main Dell nor my 3rd Dell.
This problem is probably a W11 problem not a router problem. But, I'm not an IT specialist. I have been using PCs since the '80s and in the past, when I installed a new PC or new OS- I never had this problem- I was always able to "find" and print to a local printer on one of the networked PCs.
I just logged into the router and see nothing in there that might lock out such access- though I might have missed something.
This shouldn't be so complicated. Or maybe it's just that I'm now a septuagenarian and getting slightly demented!
So, should I forget about the router as a source of the problem and focus on W11?
