Absolutely cannot share printer

Hi, I'm new to this forum having got my new vista machine several months ago. The problem is this: I cannot get my 64 bit vista machine to connect to a printer connected to my 32 bit XP machine. I have read all kinds of advice on various forums and the microsoft support site but nothing seems to work. Both computers have been networked for some time, I am able to share files and folders, both computers see the other in their network folder. I have pinged the printer, the other computer back and forth and everything is OK. I can see the network printer connected to the host computer but when I try to connect, I get the message that the server does not have the correct driver(s) installed. The printer prints fine from the XP machine. When I tried to install the drivers on the Vista machine I was told by HP that they do not have a full version of the drivers for my 64 bit macnhine but could only provide basic drivers which I downloaded and installed. I have tried creating a new port with the host computer name and printer name but all I get is the network path cannot be found. I have followed some of the suggestions for similiar problems on this site where people have had success but those ideas just don't work. The printer is a HP Photosmart 7960 which I have had for several years. Right now I am at my wits end and ready to go back and start over, maybe I missed something minor. If anyone on this site has any suggestions or ideas I would be willing to try anything.

Is it possible to connect the printer to the Vista machine?

I have a similar situation in that my Epson printer has the driver in the firmware. When connected it automatically load the Vista driver. If I connect it to my Vista64 PC, I can share it over the Lan. But if I connect it to my Windows7 PC, it will only print locally. There is no driver to download. If you can't get it to work connected to the Vista PC you may have to investigate one of those network doodads that lets you share on your network directly. Plugs into the switch/router/gizmo/whatever.

I have no problem conecting the printer to the Vista machine. It just says found new hardware, loads the drivers, and I'm ready to print. It prints fine from the Vista machine. I have to unplug it from the taskbar. I often wonder if I have to install the basic drivers on the XP machine. HP says not to. I remember reading somewhere that you cannot share a printer on a 32 bit XP machine with a Vista 64 bit. I'm beginning to think they are right. When I get a chance, I think I will connect the printer to the Vista machine and try to print from the XP.

I have Vista64 and my Epson printer will serve the driver from Vista64 to both Windows7 32 bit and XP SP2 32 bit. I would try to go that way. Have the Vista PC as the server and try to import the printer in the XP network neighborhood or using Control Panel.

I use just simple file and printer sharing and MsHome as workgroup name. It might work if I changed all workgroup names to WORKGROUP to match the new way MS is doing it, but I figure if it ain't broke don't fix it.

I have a similar problem: I have a desktop running Vista 64-bit with a laser printer connected directly to it via USB. I am trying to print to that printer using a laptop running Windows XP over my wireless network. Sharing is on and I can view/share files between the computers. In fact, I have a second printer connected to the Vista machine that I can print to using the XP laptop but for some reason I can't print to the laser printer. I have tried re-installing the printer driver on all the machines and in fact when doing so on the laptop I can print a test page. But, when I then go to print from any program (MS Word, Excel, Notepad, IE, etc.) it does not print. So, during the driver installation I can print a test page, but can not print anything else from any other program after that. I am baffled.

One thing to note. This printer was working previously but I tried to connect it to a wireless print server so the desktop would not have to be on to use the printer from the laptop. I got everything hooked up, drivers installed, etc. but needless to say, the Linksys wireless print server did not work with Vista. So, I deleted/uninstalled everything and reconnected the printer directly to the desktop, re-installed drivers, etc. and have not been able to get it to work since then.

I am baffled. Any help would be greatly appreciated.