How to print to a computer on different workgroup in XP?

[mopudding]

The question: How can I access the printer connected to my desktop on the "Home" workgroup using my VPN'd laptop?

Details:

• My laptop and desktop are connected to my home LAN (I work from home).

• The shared printer is connected to the desktop

• My laptop uses a VPN to access my work files.

The desktop is part of a workgroup called "Home", but my laptop isn't part of this, and therefore the laptop doesn't see the shared printer connected to the desktop.

Normally to access the shared printer within the workgroup, I use: \\Desktop\printerName. What do I use when accessing it from outside the workgroup?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

 

[DrGreen2007]

You do the same thing, but you will have to 'connect as' one of your user accounts and password (since your laptops not on the same workgroup and your logon ID to the laptop, probably isnt the same as one on either of your home PC's...right?)

 

[mopudding]

What is the syntax for logging in as one of the user accounts?

 

[440sixpack]

On my laptop, I have to disconnect to see my home network and print like that or access shared folders. I guess I've never tried to get it to work otherwise - I figured that to work through the VPN (since that uses a different IP scheme than my home network), I'd have to set up some type of tunnel from my work server (which I would be VPN'ed into) back to my home network, which frankly seemed like too much work to me. I'd be curious if there is a way around that though.

 

[RebateMonger]

Windows Workgroups have no effect on Windows networking. Workgroups are a convenience in displaying other PCs found by the Network Neighborhood "Browsing" function. As long as all PCs are on the same subnet, you can access them no matter what Workgroup they are in.

From: Steve Winograd's Windows Neworking Myths

"Myth: All of the computers on a network must use the same workgroup name.

Fact: Windows networking supports multiple workgroups. Computers in any workgroup can access computers in any other workgroup. Workgroups have no role in network access, and they don't provide any type of security.
Explanation: It's a little easier to access computers in the same workgroup than in other workgroups. In Windows 95 and 98, computers in the same workgroup appear immediately when you open Network Neighborhood, and you need to click Entire Network to access other workgroups."