Comments on: How to print from Windows XP via Bonjour

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 24 May 2012 03:57:06 +0000

Thanks! You made it very simple. I’ve been carrying the Windows machine down to the office for two years. You solved my problem in 2 minutes! Good Karma bro!

By: Jenn

Jenn — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 06:01:54 +0000

Amazing! Thank you so much for your post! I have an old PC and an old hp deskjet 3650 as well as a new Macbook and Airport Extreme. For some reason I couldn’t update the printer drivers using the disks or hp website on my PC (running Windows XP). I tried for 4 long dreadful hours. Then I came across your post, downloaded Bonjour and viola was able to add my printer in a matter of seconds. Super easy. Super fast after wasting 4hrs with hp disk, website!

By: Lauren

Lauren — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 01:48:24 +0000

What are you talking about? Windows works just as it should. Here is my story: After having nothing but Mac’s since 1986, I purchased an inexpensive PC Laptop running Windows 7 for the sole purpose of doing corporate taxes. In my office, I have two printers; a wireless HP All-in-One and a Brother Laser printer that is connected via USB to an Apple AirPort.

After completing the taxes, I needed to print a copy. Since it was all text, I figured I would connect to the Laser Printer. Certainly, it should be easier than connecting to a wireless printer. I found an icon on the PC to add devices and clicked on a button that said something like “Add a Printer.” I clicked it and then I think I chose an option that said “Auto Detect.” It found the Brother printer. I clicked on the Brother Model # and then had to pick a driver. I inserted the Brother Disc and picked the driver. All told, it only took about about 10 minutes. I actually thought to myself “I wonder why so many people complain about connecting stuff to a Windows computer. This couldn’t have been easier.” I then clicked the button that said “Print Test Page.” In a matter of seconds, out came the test page from the HP PRINTER! I am sure happy that my taxes are done.

By: Carol

Carol — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 20:58:37 +0000

Yes! This worked. After I waded through your pro-Apple twaddle the actual instructions worked. I appreciate the time-saving.

By: Rory

Rory — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 09:20:01 +0000

I’m currently networking seven computers together on an airport express (both mac and pc) and all I’ve had to do on the windows machines are install bonjour from the CD provided and click through a wizard.

The network I set up yesterday was on an airport express and I just chucked an ethernet cable into the printer and router and all windows pc’s were printing to it in within 10 minutes.

I’m really not sure what your on about when you talk about the incantations needed to hook up a “windoze” machine to a network printer. You probably just arn’t very good at IT.

And your girlfriends machine won’t power down when you close the lid because you need to change the power preferences in the control panel. I have my laptop set to not shut down when I close the lid so I can hook it up to a speaker system at parties and put it away safely.

Let go of this stupid war between apple and windows, they are both equally a bunch of wankers we have to deal with to get our work done, just try learning a bit more.

By: Ben

Ben — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 23:17:56 +0000

Thanks for the info, it was really helpful.

I do have to agree with thumpky though. If Microsoft created software for Mac OS that didn’t work properly, everyone would put MS down. However, Apple writes software for Windows that doesn’t work and somehow it’s MS fault again?

I like Mac’s, but this ‘Windows is evil’ crap is just getting old. End of the day, the world needs a more open OS platform. People can write software very easily on Windows, and a lot of businesses need that. On the other hand, Macs are great and I can see why people choose to use them.

Windows has it’s place, so does Mac. Why does there have to be this juvenile war? I just don’t get it.

By: thumky

thumky — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:20:06 +0000

So lets summarize. You’re angry at Windows for how it behaves when Apple Software is running on it using a proprietary Apple network protocol ( Bonjour ).
Apple should fix, or at least document these problems and limitations.

I’ve had problems with Bonjour in the past. With my last HP printer, Windows could print to it over an AirPort express but my Mac could not ( tho it could print when plugged in via USB! ).

By: TedC

TedC — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 21:28:30 +0000

I’ve had the same problem as Pais when using Bonjour for Windows; sometimes the initial installation completes but the Bonjour Printer Wizard is absent or doesn’t work. I do hope Apple attends to this bug in their software. But once Bonjour is working it’s smooth as silk. One of our faculty has never used a Mac, but I set him up with an Airport Extreme (802.11n) for his home just so he could share his USB printer easily. Mac toting houseguests will approve, too.

By: beverly

beverly — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:29:21 +0000

that was so useful. i have been trying to figure out how ot print off my mac network printers on a windows laptop for ages. thanks for the easy to follow tips!!

By: JDL51

JDL51 — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:23:22 +0000

I don’t know if anyone is still following this string, but I hope so. My problem is very similar (or the same) as several described previously. My HP Officejet L7780 works fine w/the iMac via Time Capsule/AirPort. My old Dell Inspiron 700m is still struggling. I’ve loaded/unloaded/re-loaded the Time Capsule disk and it seems to be installed correctly. However, I can’t locate a “Bonjour Print Wizard” anywhere. I found the following on the Apple Support page as it relates to running Bonjour on PCs:
“Bonjour for Windows includes a plugin to discover advertised HTTP servers using Internet Explorer. Click the Bonjour icon in the Internet Explorer toolbar to enable Bonjour browsing. If you have Bonjour devices on your local network with embedded HTTP (Web) servers, they will appear in the list.” I don’t see a Bonjour icon in the Internet Explorer toolbar or anywhere else. I’m at wits end…