Today I had a heck of a time setting up a shared printer on two XP (serv. pack 3) computers.
Aside from the HARDWARE firewall that is already protecting the computers from the Internet, each PC also has Windows Firewall installed.

The computer with the printer attached to it, had the port ENABLED in the "Advanced" firewall options, to allow File and Printer Sharing. However, I could not for the life of me, GET the other computer to connect to the printer.

I finally just disabled Windows Firewall completely on the computer with the printer attached, and tried again to connect to the printer from the other computer and it worked!

Anyone know why disabling the firewall worked....I mean, isn't it suppose to work if "File and Printer Sharing" is allowed through the firewall, with out totally disabling it??



Well, Microsoft is not much help.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/internet/sp2_wfintro.mspx

But you should have the firewall on.

Maybe after a day or so it will work as it should. Well the use of windows firewall is to protect your computer from viruses and also from other computers that wants to send you some files or anything. For example let's say you want to play warcraft with another friend ENABLING firewall won't connect you to your friend meaning you have to off it so that you can connect to him. Also we have a computer shop and my computer the server has its firewall off so that people can send their files if they want to print something because i didn't share the printer.windows firewall status for me: completely disabled.

I have literally disabled the Security center. I'm tired of it constantly whining "YOUR COMPUTER MAY BE AT RISK". So I disabled it.

as FAR as FIREWALLS my router has a good one.