Can't Print From Vista Laptop to Printer on XP Desktop

[edthec]

I have a Canon I960 connected via USB to a Desktop running XP. My Laptop is running Vista Home Premium (64 bits) and connected to my Desktop via a Linksys wireless router.

I can access files on the Desktop from my Laptop and access files on my Laptop from my Desktop. I can print from my Desktop but cannot print from my Laptop.

I know that many others have had the same problem and have tried the solutions that solved their problems -- none worked for me.

Can someone please help me before I pull the last of my hair from my head!

It makes it stressful to give an answer since who knows what you mean by: "I
tried what other do".
If you do not list what you did how can any one knows what did you actually
tried?
The most common issue is the lack of the printer's 64bits drivers on the
Vista computer, or and, Firewall blocking the printing traffic.
Printer Sharing XP -
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...utt_july2.mspx
Windows Native Firewall setting for Sharing XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/875357
Windows XP patch for Sharing with Vista -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120

[edthec]

Sorry to be stressful but I've done everything listed in the web addresses in your response. Still no luck.

I think the address you listed first applies only to a network where both or all PC's are operating XP. My previous laptop had an XP operating system and I had no problem accessing the printer from it.

Pretty much of the above applies to your second referenc. I do not receive any warning messages and can access all files and folders on the XP computer with my Vista laptop.

Re your third reference, I attempted to install the LLTD patch on the XP computer and a message popped up saying it was already installed as part of Service Pack 3.

I've downloaded the Canon i960 64 bit driver (AOMVSTEA23US.EXE), saved it on my laptop, but I can't get it to unzip. It says it installed correcdtly.

When I add a printer it says it installed correctly. But when I try to print a test page it queues but I get an "Error - Printing" on the pop-up when I look at the printer queue.

One other thing. When I go to Control Panel on my Laptop and look at Printers, I see a printer labeled correctly and with a green check mark but there is a shaded out "Error" shown as well.

Have you downloaded and installed the Vista 64 bit driver onto the Vista
machine?
See
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/co...1&modelid=9388

This is how I got my Vista Laptop to Print to a Shared Laser Printer which
is connected via USB to my XP Desktop computer.

1. On your Vista Laptop, Go to Control Panel - Choose Printer - Then Choose
Add Printer

2. Choose Add Local Printer

3. Click on Create a New Port, the default in the drop down list is Local
Port. Do Not Change this. Click Next. You may have to type in Local Port.
You will then be presented with a list of printer manufacturers. Select your
vendor and specific printer from the list. If your printer is not listed,
select the closest match.

4. A dialogue box will appear asking for you to enter a port name. Type in
\\computer name\printer name. For example, My computer's name is Office and
the printer's name is Office Printer, so I typed in \\Office\Office Printer.
You can find out the name of your printer by Browsing for available network
printers BEFORE you do step number 2 above. This is accomplished by doing
step number 1, but select Add Network, Wireless or Bluetooth Printer. Vista
will search for available Printer. Right down exactly how you have named
your XP printer.

5. You should now be able to print from you Vista Machine to a XP Printer.

[mmeenan]

Hi, I am having the same problem being discussed in this thread. A Vista laptop (wireless) and an XP desktop, hardwired to printer and router. I can share files and internet without issues, I cannot print from the laptop. I have an Epson Stylus Photo RX620 printer. To install the drivers on the laptop. I connected to the printer via USB and let Vista download the drivers (my Epson CD was incompatible with Vista). I can see the newly installed printer, but it wants to connect via the usb port.

I follow the instructions you gave in the post to edthec, but it seems to have only made a copy from the previous installation. It added an (M) to the printer name, which I don't understand.

Never mind -- I got it!!!

Apparently, my printer was NOT called Epson Stylus . . . ., instead it was called printer3 (I don't know why, I only have 1 printer). Once I discovered that, I could point the port to the correct path on my desktop and your instructions worked worked like a charm. Thanks for posting them for all to see.

I've tried that and I must be doing something wrong - because it still is
not finding my printer. (argh)

I am performing the instructions on my Vista computer as you have written.
I am entering my computer name as my Local Port. I select the printer (the
series) from the list and add it. If I try to select the port and printer
name that I have previously set up on my XP system, it tells me that port
already exists. Should I try using it?
Very confused and frustrated at this point.

after downloading Vista drivers onto both the XP (printer connected)
computer and the Vista (wireless connected laptop). i still couldn't
print to the i960. your instructions worked! thank you again!

[scot]

I am having the same problem with my Vista laptop and XP desktop and an HP Officejet J5780. I follow the process described but I cannot use the \ to put in my computer name so I used /. This still did not work. I tried downloading the drivers for Vista 64 from HP to my desktop, which seemed to work, but when I go to share the printer and select the additional driver, I do not see the driver.

Can someone help?

And why cannot you use the "\" character?

[nravi]

Problem solved