Creating the network between Windows 7 and XP

Windows 7 is the latest Operating System in the Microsoft Windows range. Currently, it is one of the most used OS worldwide but still you will find thousands of computers still running on Windows XP. The overall structure of XP is quite different from its latest successor Win 7. If you are thinking how to establishing networking between Windows 7 and XP then you’ve landed up at the right place. We will discuss the same in this blog post, stay tuned.

Disclaimer: We are going to discuss technical steps to network Windows XP computer with a Windows 7 PC. We don’t take any guarantee or responsibility of the results after performing the mentioned steps because it solely depends how you perform them. Contact Online Microsoft Help if you are not so much technical to understand these steps or face any issue while performing them.

Section 1: Make the connection properly

Make sure both the Windows XP PC and Windows 7 PC are connected properly through router or cross cable or any other medium. In our case, the computers are connected through Ethernet cables via router.

Section 2: Check the Workgroup

Checking Workgroup on Windows XP

- Go to the Control Panel -> System to open the System Properties.

- Open ‘Computer Name’ tab. This will show the name of XP computer and its workgroup.

Checking Workgroup on Windows 7

- Go to the Control Panel -> System and Maintenance -> System for opening the System Properties.

- Check the name of Workgroup of Windows 7 PC.

You have to make sure the workgroup of XP computer will match the workgroup on Windows 7. If it doesn’t match then change the Work group of Windows XP with following steps,

- At the ‘Computer Name’ tab in System Properties, click on Change button.

- Enter the same name of Workgroup as on Windows 7 PC.

- Click OK button and restart the computer, if prompted.

TIP: You can also change the Workgroup name on Windows 7 PC, if required.

Section 3: Checking File Sharing in Windows XP

- Go to the Control Panel, and click Network Connections to open it. This will show all the connections in your network. If it is blank then get help from Microsoft Windows XP Support.

- Right click on the ‘Local Area Connection’ for your Ethernet card and click Properties.

- Check whether it shows ‘File & Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks’, ‘Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)’ etc. Almost all Windows XP computers using Internet will have it already installed. If not then get help from online Microsoft Windows Support.

Section 4: Networking Options in Windows 7

- Go to the Control Panel and click ‘All Control Panel items’.

- Click ‘Network and Sharing Center’ icon to open it.

Network and Sharing Center in Control Panel of Windows 7

  - Click the ‘Change advanced settings’ in the left hand side panel.

Left Panel in Network and Sharing Center

  - You will see different options for Home and Network as shown below:

Options in Change Advanced Settings in Network & Sharing Center

  - You have to change the settings in both ‘Home or Work’ and Public options. You can select any one option to customize its settings.

List of Settings in Public Option in ‘Advanced Settings’ of Network & Sharing Center

  - Enable the following options in these settings:

 

1. Turn on Network Discovery

2. Turn on File & Printer Sharing

3. Turn on sharing so anyone with network access can read and write files in the Public folders.

- Click on the button saying ‘Save Cwhanges’. Enter the login credentials of administrator, if required.

- You have to select the same settings for ‘Home or Work’.

Section 5: Checking the Networking

Go to the Windows Explorer -> Network to check whether Windows XP machine is being displayed therein or not.

If you are not able to connect the Windows XP machine and Windows 7 PC with above steps then it is recommended to take help of experts at online Microsoft help.     

                   

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Possible resolution of Fatal Error while installing a HP Printer

While installing a new or old HP printer, the users often get the ‘Fatal Error’. It is one of the most frustrating problems, especially when you face it with an all new HP Printer. You are just not able to print, scan or copy any document from it. Are you also getting this issue? In this blog post, we are going to discuss the possible solution of Fatal Error problem while installing HP Printer.



Disclaimer: We don’t take any guarantee or responsibility of the results after performing the mentioned steps. This is because the final result of troubleshooting solely depends upon the way how a user is performing it. If you are not so much technical or face any issue in performing the below mentioned steps then straightaway take help of online HP Technical Support.

Case Scenario

Fatal Error during HP Printer installation appears up in the last process when the computer is trying to connect with the printer. It means you have installed the printer partially and now its installation got stuck inside registry entries plus system files.

Resolution Steps

We are going to discuss different steps so we have separated them in different sections. Perform the steps mentioned in each section one by one.

Section 1 to uninstall HP Printer

The first and foremost step will be to uninstall all HP printer software and drivers completely from the computer. Any remaining stuck entry will create problems again while trying to install and use HP printer. Common HP Printer applications are listed below,

1.    HP Solution Center
2.    HP Photosmart Essentials
3.    HP Photosmart Express
4.    HP Photosmart Creations
5.    Shop for HP Supplies
6.    HP Customer Participation Program
7.    HP Smart Web Printing
8.    HP Imaging Device Functions
9.    HP Image Zone
10.    HP Software Updates
11.    HP Director
12.    HP Memory Disk
13.    OCR Software (optional)

Disclaimer: If you are using any other separate HP product like HP computer, HP camera etc. then make sure they remain intact and there is no need to touch their applications or drivers. If you don’t know point out what HP software need to be removed then contact online Printer Support.

- Power off the printer and then disconnect it from the computer.

- In XP, go to Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs. In Vista/7, go to the Control -> Programs -> Programs and Features.

- Select the HP Printer software and uninstall them one by one.

Section 2 to remove stuck entries

It is the time to remove all the entries of HP Printer from Windows Registry and system files. You can do this using the HP Software Removal Utility.

Disclaimer: Take help of HP technical support when you don’t have the enough knowledge how to perform the steps mentioned in this section.

Perform below steps,

- Download All-in-One Software Removal Utility from http://goo.gl/kqKo7 for Windows XP & 2000.

- Download Officejet Removal Utility from http://goo.gl/YtJGW for Windows XP, 2000 and Vista.

- Power off the printer and disconnect it from PC.

- Run any of the above removal utility and perform on-screen instructions. You have to run this utility four times to achieve all of its four levels – L1, L2, L3, and L4. Computer restart is required only if prompted.

Section 3 Only for XP and Vista

Please don’t perform this section for Windows 7.

Only the Windows 7 and Server 2008 arrive preinstalled with the latest Windows Installer 5.0. Other Windows editions – XP, Vista, 2000, and 2003 doesn’t come with the latest Windows Installer 4.5. Perform below steps to check and update it,

- Go to the Start and click Run.

- Type msiexec.exe and press the Enter key. It will open a new window of Windows Installer and show its version.

- If you don’t have the latest Windows Installer 4.5 then download it from http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=8483.

- Install Windows Installer 4.5 in XP and Vista.

If you face any problem in installing Windows Installer 4.5 then take help of online Microsoft Windows Support.

Section 4 to empty Temporary Files

Perform below steps to remove the stuck temporary files,

- Click on Start Menu and then click on Run. The Vista or 7 users can type run in the search box in Start Menu to open it.

- Type %temp% to open the User’s temporary files.

- Delete all the temporary files from %temp% folder.

- Similarly, open Windows Temporary Files Folder through temp in Run.

- You have to empty C:\Windows\temp folder.

Section 5 to have the latest or available drivers ready

Case 1: For Broadband or higher Internet Connection

- Visit the http://support.hp.com to download the latest Full Package drivers for your HP Printer.

- Download the drivers in a folder under C: Drive.

- Download the WinRAR, 7z or any other compression utility and install it.

- Use the compression utility to extract the setup file it in a folder under C: Drive.

Case 2: For Slow Internet Connection

Copy the available entire HP Printer driver disc in a folder under C: Drive. If you don’t have the disc then you can order it online at http://support.hp.com.

The driver path in both cases can be C:\HPXXXX, where X will be replaced with printer model number.

Section 6 to install the printer

- Run the setup from the C: drive itself.

- Perform onscreen steps to install the HP printer.

Section 7

If you still face the ‘Fatal Error’ problem while reinstalling the HP Printer after following above steps then contact HP Technical Support directly. Else perform below steps,

- If you have installed Windows Installer 4.5 in the earlier troubleshooting, then you just have to perform steps of Section 1 to 3 and Section 4.

- If you are facing ‘Fatal Error’ while connecting the printer through Wired or Wireless Network, then make use of HP Home Network Diagnostic Utility from http://goo.gl/KqpWH before trying to install the printer.

- Perform the steps mentioned in Section 5 and 6 now.

If you still face the ‘Fatal Error’ problem with your HP Printer then it is strongly recommended to get help from experts at online Printer Support.

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