And I won!
Please prepare yourselves for a completely geeked out post. If you should make it through you will be rewarded with a picture.
I received my brand spanking HUGE Canon large format printer a few days ago and began the ugly install process today. Some people would have taken the easy way out and connected the printer directly to their computer and had it working in a matter of minutes. O not me, my friend, not me. I decided to add an interesting degree of difficulty to the situation by setting up the printer in a completely different room, uninhabited by a computer. The second degree of difficulty that I added was that my main computer is running XP64. What does XP64 mean? Well, it means that I can have more RAM than people running regular XP. but it also means that not everything works on it. So far “not everything” means my Palm Pilot and this print server I just bought ….
The Specs:
my computer, running XP64 (round 1)
second computer, running XP (round 2)
linksys WRT54G wireless router
linksys WPSM54G wireless print server
The insanity:
1. I have been completely unable to print a test page. Linksys print server documentation warns “this may mean that the printer is not compatible with the print server”. GULP.
2. I was completely successful in setting up the print server, but when I went to set up the computer, the Linksys software gave me the following gloomy message “OS is not supported”. GULP.
3. The software that came with the Canon printer too popped up the second unhappy message “OS is not supported”. Not too worried, Canon’s support site revealed Xp64 drivers. YAY! Some good news!!
4. I’ve put in a call to Linksys after 4 hours of troubleshooting to verify XP64 compatibility. I’m waiting for Tier 2 support to call me back since Tier 1 wasn’t really sure what I was talking about. I’m resisting the urge to have a stern talking to with the printer but I’m afraid he will retaliate by spitting 12 recently filled ink cartridges at me.
The solution:
With still no call from Linksys and my need to fix this growing more intense, I ate breakfast and used my newfound energy to commence ROUND 2.
1. Start with XP!!! I installed everything on a regular Windows XP computer. I’m sure other versions of windows will work as long as they are not 64-bit.
2.Completely ignore the software that comes with the Linksys.
Sad but true.
3. Connect print server to network (via cable first) Do pay attention of the order that you need to plug & unplug the cables!
When you start, the print server power will be plugged in. Then add the network cable. (Ethernet/power/USB lights will be on). http://linksys.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/…=4183040218B04
4. Know your wireless router settings.
http://linksys.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/…p?p_faqid=3698
5. Assign a static IP address to the print server.
http://linksys.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/…i=&p_topview=1
6. Configure wireless settings on print server.
After wireless settings are configured, remove the cables as instructed. After reconnecting, wireless/power/usb lights will be on.
http://linksys.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/…=4378840218B05
7. Setup TCP/IP printing on XP:
You will need your printer drivers. When it asked for the printer it was not on the list so I choose “have disk” and the located the driver on the Canon Printer Driver disk that came with the printer. If this doesn’t work you can also download the correct printer driver from Canon’s website.
http://linksys.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/…=8161740218B03
8. This is the point that I went ahead & went through the CD.
I first set up the print servers (which already was working from the above actions). Make sure you keep the same settings as you did doing it manually and then do the setup on the computer.
TEST PAGE PRINTED!!! VICTORY!!!
9. Share printer with computer in network. (Vista 64 & XP 64 operating systems). You do have to have the correct printer drivers installed on those network computers. I downloaded the XP64 driver from Canon’s website for the printer.
I have a successful first print from the XP 64 computer wirelessly from my office to another room!!! WOO HOO!!!
So you may be wondering what the first print was. Here was the winner ….
Linksys just called back and stepped me through setting it up with XP 64. Victory #3.