I just got a new MacBook Pro, and I am trying to print on my network to a HP Color LaserJet 2600n that is attached via USB to a Windows XP PC. I have carefully followed the instruction posted on http://www.ifelix.co.uk/tech/3015.html and I am still unable to print. I made sure the printer name on the remote Windows PC has no spaces.
Problem: After I enter (on my Mac) my Windows PC user name and password to access the user account on the remote Windows PC, I get the following error message:
Unable to connect to server with the provided password and user name. Error: 256
The Windows PC is running the Windows XP Firewall, the Avast Antivirus, and Windows Defender. I have deactivated all these applications and the issue persists. I made sure I added on the Windows XP PC an additional service (the TCP/IP print server service) to allow others (notably Mac OS X users) to print per the recommendation on
http://tech.ifelix.net/3002.html
I called Apple yesterday (I am still in my 90-day free support since this is a new MacBook Pro). After some basic troubleshooting with a tier one rep, I was transfered to a tier 2 rep who told me after making sure that I was following the right steps to try to add the printer, that since the HP LaserJet 2600n printer is connected to a Windows XP computer, my set-up is not supported by Apple and declined continuing troubleshooting the issue. According to this person Apple will only support network printing when the printer is directly attached to a hub/router. The equipment room has the cable connection, the cable modem, the hub/router, the wireless access point and is located in one building and the office where all the PCs are (including the HP Color LaserJet 2600n printer) is located in another building.
Please help! Thank you!