We have a Dell Desktop running XP it connects through USB to our 2Wire Gateway router.

We recently purchased a HP Laptop running Vista x64, it is connected to the same 2Wire through the wireless signal.

Here is our problem. We purchased a HP Photosmart C5580 which is connected to our desktop and functioning fine.

We were told we could connect our laptop to this printer wirelessly all though it has no wireless capability (other than bluetooth which we do not have on our laptop). They said there were two ways to network it so that we would not have to use the USB with our laptop.

What is the easiest way to do about doing this?
I have spent 6 hours on the phone with HPs so called "techs" and they were unable to help at all. Kept trying to connect through bluetooth (which I told them our laptop was not capable of). I called Geek Squad to make sure are laptop was some how to connect to this printer with out a USB as that is the only reason I bought it. They said we could do it 2 ways through networking and that it would be simple enough for me to do on my own.

Is anyone able to help??

John
When I go into Network and then into Network and Sharing on my laptop I see:

Laptop---My router---Internet but not my desktop. How do I see my desktop??

First have a look at this link.

Network Map in Windows Vista does not display computers that are running Windows XP

Then download it on the xp PC, reboot. Then go back into network sharing center on the vista laptop and view full map to see if desktop is seen. Once it is seen by vista then go back to xp machine and share printer. Once that is done go back to laptop and test print a page, anything will do. Click file, print and then click find printer tab. This will search for networked printers. When it finds one it will ask you to download drivers, accept and click OK. This will take a few minutes. When that is done click the print tab and you should be printing from the shared printer while using the laptop.

OK I have XP service pack 3. So.. when I try to download link layer it tells me it can't because the version I have is newer than the one downloading. Do I need to uninstall service pack 3 somehow?

On the Desktop XP
I see Local area connection

On the Laptop Vista
I see (Laptop)---Router----(Internet)

Both have workgroup name MSHOME

I did notice on the desktop when I right click on Local Area Connection and go to properties I don't see I don't see either
Link Layer Topology Discovery Mapper I/O Drive or
Link Layer Topology Discovery Responder

But if I can't download it what am I to do?

Change both from mshome to workgroup. By default vista is setup as workgroup. You must change xp machines to workgroup in order for vista to recognize them in network map.