wirelessly print to dell computer from macbook

[bigben2wardpitt]

There aren't any lexmark drivers for the dell printer (supposedly this is who makes their printers). Is there any way to do this? The dell is directly connected to a PC all the time.

I could get a wireless printer router, but I was trying to avoid that.

We have a wireless router connected to a modem, and then a repeater/range expander that is connected to the dell computer (which the dell printer is connected to).

 

[masteryoda34]

Dell printers :thumbsdown:

 

[bigben2wardpitt]

believe me, I know. Not my pick. At my parents house....

 

[Zaap]

Try Printer Sharing on the Windows machine.

On the Mac side, install Gimp-Print.

Use Print & Fax to connect to the shared printer.

Under the driver or print model selector, choose the closest match from Gimp Print, or try a generic setting.

In my experience, most times this works perfectly on the first try. Occasionally, it doesn't work at all no matter how much hair is ripped out. It seems to depend on the flakiness of the computers being used (both Windows and Mac) the network itself, the printer, and a certain amount of voodoo.

Also, you could try Bonjour- although I'm not sure if it's just for sharing printers attached to a Mac with PCs (the way I've used it with great results) or if it can also do the opposite- connect Macs to printers attached to a PC.


All else fails: transfer whatever you have to print to the PC, and print it from there. (Assuming PC-compatible file types). Or, print whatever to PDF, transfer that to the PC and print it.

 

[rdp6]

I connect using CUPS: http://www.cups.org/
I was shown this before I ever thought to try anything else. I think it is great that Apple sponsors this project.

 

[bigben2wardpitt]

Ok, when I do all this, using the print and fax on the mac, it finds my windows workgroup, computer, and printer, but when it asks me for a password (and username) I have no idea what it is. I put in whatever I think it may be and then move on to the next step of adding it. However, when I try to print, the dell shows the printing box up..but then it immediately stops... i'm thinking this is because I have the wrong password. How do I find what I set the password as on the PC? I dont remember ever setting a password....

 

[TheStu]

Then leave the field blank... or since that sometimes doesn't work, make a new user account on that system, with just enough privileges to allowing sharing, give it a user name (how about 'Printer'?) and then a password, and call it a day.

 

[bigben2wardpitt]

Originally posted by: TheStu
Then leave the field blank... or since that sometimes doesn't work, make a new user account on that system, with just enough privileges to allowing sharing, give it a user name (how about 'Printer'?) and then a password, and call it a day.

I tried leaving the field blank, didn't work.

Make a new user account on what? The PC? the mac?

I'm thinking this thing isn't gonna work, from my google searches about mac and photo 944...

 

[TheStu]

You make a new user account on the PC.

So, you have the PC running... who knows what OS.

You make a new User, let it share the printer.

Give the user a name, give the user a password.

Connect to the Printer on the PC through the Mac.

Connect as the new user.