Good day!
I need your help with this problem before it drives me mad.
Right!
I have three computers, all running xp, connected to a buffalo router which is inturn connected to the modem. I have the printer (canon MP360 series printer)connected to one of the computers which prints etc fine. In the past I installed the printer software onto the other two computers and followed the add printer instructions on both and both computers found the printer by either browsing for the printer or typing in the address of the printer (\\computer name which the printer is attached to\printer name). For a long while I was able to print from any of the computers. Recently, I lost the capability to print from either of these two computers. In an effort to find a solution I have uninstalled the printer from the two remote(?) computers and reinstalled the software. Following the add printer wizard whether I browse or type in the address as before I get a message saying "Windows cannot connect to the printer. Either the printer name was typed incorrectly, or the specified printer has lost its connection to the server". I assume that the "server" in this case is the computer that the printer is attached to. If so,then it surely hasn`t lost its connection to it because its possible to print from that computer(server). I have double checked the server computer name and the share name of the printer and made sure that the printer share checkbox is checked. Trying to be a clever dick I clicked on My Network Places than View Workgroup Computers and the server computer is listed on only one of other computers. I still cannot add or find the printer on that computer.
Whats going on Chaps? What am I doing wrong? Am I missing a trick here?
Maybe I`m just thick! What ever, can anyone help?.

Regards
Tich

You're correct in your understanding that the "server" in this case is the computer hosting the shared printer. The lost connection that it is referring to, however, is the connection from the remote PCs to the "server" computer (not the server to the printer).

The most likely and not particularly obvious reason that I can think of just now is a firewall issue. Have you installed any new security-related software? Changed any network settings that may have enabled a firewall? Perhaps the Windows Firewall that most of us forget about if we have a third-party firewall installed? Does your firewall application have automatic updates switched on? Perhaps your PC has downloaded an update that has made the settings more secure than they used to be?

When checking firewall settings, note that it is not just the "server" computer whose firewall might be blocking communications. It could also be the remote PCs that are stopping themselves communicating with the server.