Why can't I print from one of the PCs on my home network?

In order to print from any computer on your network, both that computer and the printer have to be connected to the network. In addition, the printer has to be configured as a shared printer, and the shared printer has to be installed on each PC on your network.

To activate printer sharing, you need to reinstall the printer on the computer to which it's physically connected. When you go through the installation routine, make sure you configure the printer's properties to "share this printer."

Next, you have to install the shared printer on each of the PCs on your network by running the Add Printer wizard on each PC. When you come to the Local or Network Printer screen, select the "network printer" option, then select the printer that's connected to your main computer.

If you have trouble setting up printer sharing in Windows, you might want to check out AOL Network Magic. This software program makes it easy to set up all aspects of your home network, including sharing a printer.

Michael Miller is a writer and commentator on technology and digital lifestyle topics.