Vista - Trouble Networking a Printer

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??

hi CMUChip98 ,

well this is very simple and stright forward, what you need to do is fiest make sure that you can access the desktop computer from ur hp laptop. once that is done on your desktop computer share the printer. then when u access the desktop computer you should be able to see the shared printer. just double click and connect on it. if you have a problem connecting to the desktop computer plz giv me more details so i can help you

Have you installed Link Layer Topology Discovery, so that Vista laptop can see XP Desktop?

Laptop ~~~~Router~~~~Desktop~~'Bluetooth'~~Printer

Yes it can be done! It's more than likely your laptop doesn't see desktop which in turn is connected via bluetooth to printer!

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.

You need to install and read the features below to be able to see your Xp computer from your Vista computer. Then when you can see the XP computer you can then see the printer shared on it.

To share files or a printer from XP computers, follow these procedures:~


1. Download and install the Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) responder:~

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

Read the instructions!



2. Check these out as well...

Windows Technet:~

File and Printer Sharing in Windows Vista

Most Valuable Proffesional:~

How to share files or a folder in Vista


3. Don't forget to configure (Input ip addresses in subnetworks) your Firewall to accept sharing from other computers.If you have Kaspersky check this below:~

Kaspersky Blocks My Network


You may have to install the driver on the Vista computer to get the thing to work as i had to on mine....
If you need further help don't hesitate to contact me...

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?

No do not uninstall anything.
When you go to start and then click on Network on Vista what do you see? Same again on Xp what do you see?

Are both computers connected to the same router? You should see this:~
Comp Vista>>>>The same>>>> Comp Xp>> Printer
Comp XP >>x>>>>Router>> x>> Comp Vista


Also this might help
The default workgroup name in Windows Vista has been changed to WORKGROUP. In Windows® XP Home Edition, the default workgroup name is MSHOME. If you upgrade a computer running Windows XP Home Edition to Windows Vista, it will keep its existing workgroup name. However, new computers with Windows Vista can have a different workgroup name than the other computers on your network. With different workgroups, it takes more time and effort to view all of the computers on the network

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.