computer can't find copier on network to install

[Blazer1087]

You guys helped me alot with setting up SMB for scanning. I'm new to networking problems as we have been leaving it up to the client to do. I'm trying to learn the basics to help our accounts with set up. My problem is hooking up my laptop, with windows 7, to a copier, usally a ricoh, through a switch. Sometimes my comp. finds the copier easily and I can print but many times I get the message " no printer found". Am I missing a step or maybe a setting on the copier needs to be changed? I apprieciate any help you can give.

[rthonpm]

Are yiou trying to have Windows install the correct driver or are you manually adding the device? Plug and Play and TCP/IP printing can play nicely, but they usually don't get along. Try manually creating a TCP/IP port with the copier's IP address and manually add the correct driver from the Ricoh website. If you're trying to use the same port every time, different networks will have different IP configurations, so you may be in a situation where you don't have a 192.168.xxx.xxx environment.

[jonhiker]

ALso, why through a switch? I generally connect directly to the copier for testing and troubleshooting issues. Be sure and print off a config page for the correct IP configuration (like rthonpm said) and change your computer to match, except for the last octet. Printer = xxx.xxx.xxx.123, you = xxx.xxx.xxx.125, for example.

[Blazer1087]

I thought using an ethernet connection I had to use a switch, hub or router to connect. I understand what you guys are saying about IP address's......I'll have to try some more hook ups and pay closer attention to what address's are being used. I was assuming the computer would just set it up correctly for me each time I hooked it up. thanks

[ignacio.cortez]

Re: computer can't find copier on network to install

I thought using an ethernet connection I had to use a switch, hub or router to connect. I understand what you guys are saying about IP address's......I'll have to try some more hook ups and pay closer attention to what address's are being used. I was assuming the computer would just set it up correctly for me each time I hooked it up. thanks

If you are using an OLD laptop, probably need a switch or a hub with a CrossOver, or even a crossover cable (if you need pin out I'll send you the info, or you can buy one at Best Buy, Radio Shack, Fry's, Microcenter or any other computer store.

If you're using a newer laptop, the laptop NIC should autoswitch by itself.

[TheOwl]

Re: computer can't find copier on network to install

Your laptop will hookup autmatically so to speak if you are on a network which serves DHCP requests. What this means is that a server or some piece of equipment will tell your computer what IP address to use which in theory should also be in the same IP range as the photocopier.

If you aren't on a network with DHCP and your copier and computer are set to obtain an IP address automatically (DHCP), then generally, they will pick up a 169.254.x.x address. This can be hit and miss sometimes as to if they are allowed to talk to one another correctly.

I will also second or third that you don't need a switch between your copiers and your latop. As was also stated already, newer laptop will cross the NIC port automatically and older laptops don't. The easiest way to find this out is to plug a standard network cable from your computer to a printer / copier and see if the lights on the copiers or computers NIC light up. If they don't, then try a crossover cable.