Solved Windows 8.1 Pro can't connect to network printerI'm using

I'm using Windows 8.1 Professional. After the update to 8.1, I can't connect to my network printer which is connected to a Windows XP Home machine. Everything was working before the upgrade. I can currently see, connect, access and modify files on all the computers. I keep getting a message that I don't have permission to access the printer and I can't access the permissions on the Windows XP computer. I'm also using a Windows 7 computer which has no problem accessing the printer. Anyone know what I can try??

A shared printer is not what is considered a Network printer. It does help to know what the manufacturer and model of the printer is.

The printer is a HP PSC 1610xi. The computers that are currently sharing the printer are
2 laptops running windows 7 (one a dual boot with Windows Vista Home Premium)
1 tower running Windows 7
1 tower running Windows 8.1 Professional
All the computers connect to each other and the printer except for the Windows 8.1 Professional which needs some additional permissions to connect to the printer which I can't figure out how to grant. I can transfer files between all machines. The Windows 8.1 computer is wired while the others are a combination of wired and wireless.

That printer will never work with anything other than Windows XP. Time for you to upgrade to a Wifi or Ethernet Network capable printer. You can still use that printer with Windows XP, until it dies if you wish.

It was only intended to work with the Windows 9x type OS's (95, 98, ME). Never meant for Windows 2000 or Windows XP. HP software engineers were able to create code with their software to band-aid in a fix, for that printer to work with XP. But it is well past its end of life.

Broe23 I agree with your comments. However, I don't want it to work with anything but Windows XP. That's what it's connected to. And the printer is shared with Vista, Windows 7 and did share with Windows 8 until the upgrade to Windows 8.1. All the computers were able to print their documents nicely. I have other environments with up-to-date Epson wireless printers for printing from offsite locations, but in the current environment I don't believe I need to upgrade the printer. If I were in a corporate environment I would but for light home work it's not necessary. As an exercise I would just like to know what broke since it might happen to another shared printer in the future.

broe23 said:

That printer will never work with anything other than Windows XP. Time for you to upgrade to a Wifi or Ethernet Network capable printer. You can still use that printer with Windows XP, until it dies if you wish.

It was only intended to work with the Windows 9x type OS's (95, 98, ME). Never meant for Windows 2000 or Windows XP. HP software engineers were able to create code with their software to band-aid in a fix, for that printer to work with XP. But it is well past its end of life.

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I was using a hp f380 all in one .hooked to a win7 tower as a shared printer on my win8.1 pro tower, only use it now and then ,I assume it still works

caperjack said:

I was using a hp f380 all in one .hooked to a win7 tower as a shared printer on my win8.1 pro tower, only use it now and then ,I assume it still works

Click to expand...

There are exceptions to the rule. It is a hit or miss on some of the HP printers out there, if they will work with Vista, 7, 8.x.x. I am surprised that the f380 works with Windows 7 & 8.1. Especially since it was another that HP band-aided for XP.

Something got corrupted on two machines running Windows 8.1 Pro and Windows 7 Pro. The problem was resolved as follows:
I removed the HP Printer from the Printers dialog on both computers and then added them back. Windows found drivers, installed them and now everything's working as before. Thanks to all for your help.