Microsoft MN-500 User Manual

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Chapter 6: Troubleshooting     45 
 
 
Printing and File Sharing Issues 
This section will help you solve problems that you might encounter while printing over 
your network or accessing shared files and folders. 
I can't print to a networked printer. 
The following troubleshooting steps will help you track down and solve the problem. 
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Make sure that the printer is functioning properly. There could be a problem with 
the printer itself. Verify that the printer is on and working correctly by using the 
printer’s self-test functions. See your printer documentation for specific 
instructions. 
If the printer fails the self test, try turning the printer off and back on again. Make 
sure that the printer has ink and paper. If the printer is still not working, see the 
printer documentation. 
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Make sure that you can print from your main computer. If the printer passes the 
self test, try printing from the computer that is connected directly to the printer. If 
this computer will not print successfully, you may need to install printer drivers or 
check the cable connecting the printer to your computer. See the following 
troubleshooting steps for more information. 
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Make sure that all cables are securely connected. Check that the cables in your 
network are securely connected to the correct ports. Check all power cables and the 
cables between the printer and the host computer or network. Make sure that the 
status lights on the base station and each network adapter are illuminated to 
indicate that each connected Ethernet port is working properly. If the status lights 
are not illuminated, try a different type of Ethernet cable (straight-through or 
crossover) or a different network port. 
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Ensure that the printer is shared over your network. If your printer is connected to 
a computer, which is then connected to your network, you must make that printer 
available to other computers. This process is known as “sharing” a printer over  
the network. 
To make a printer available to the network, go to the computer that is connected 
directly to the printer. Follow instructions for printer sharing for that computer’s 
operating system. For more information about sharing a printer over the network, 
see Windows Help. 
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Check whether the correct printer driver is installed. Every computer that will use 
a shared printer on your network must have that printer’s driver installed. You can 
make sure that the driver for the networked printer has been installed on a 
computer by checking the Printers item in Control Panel. If it is installed, you will 
see your shared printer listed in the Printers section. After you have verified that 
the printer driver is installed, try printing a test page from the computer. 
You can install the printer driver by opening Printers and Faxes through Control 
Panel in Windows XP, or through the Add Printer feature in Control Panel on other 
Windows operating systems. If Windows prompts you for a driver disk, use the driver 
disk that came with your printer.