I have Win 7 7100 installed on my Acer Aspire One dual boot with XP. Our home network printer (HP C5550) is on a desktop computer running Win XP SP3. I can print from my Acer One via Bluetooth to the C5550, but when I install the printer as a network share, it refuses to print. The printer install is getting the drivers from the XP machine. I have tried a driect connect via USB from Win 7 to the C5550, and that works. How can I troubleshoot the print failure when the C5550 is installed as a network share? I have tried setting it as default, which is what the troubleshooter suggests, but that does not work. I am sure the Vista drivers for the printer are installed on the XP machine. Any ideas? Thanks. Jeff

Today I found another post on this forum which allowed me to get the HP C5550 working as a network share on the XP machine. Quote from "Jimbo45" on Windows 7 forum... http://www.sevenforums.com/network-internet/4602-xp-7-printer-sharing.html#post75102 "I've posted on this before but to share Printers attached to XP computers with either X-64 or X-32 versions of W7 is SIMPLE. These instructions are for the Printer attached to the XP machine (but works in reverse as well). ("Stand alone" Network printers can be done slightly similarly BTW). assume the computers are call XPMACHINE and W7MACHINE. 1) Ensure Printer on XP machine is shared - assume it's called SHAREDPRINTER. 2) On the Network Browsing on your W7 machine ensure you can "See" the Printer share. Now on the W7 machine do the following (doesn't matter if it's X-86 or x-64). 3) Control Panel==> add LOCAL (Yes LOCAL) printer. I know it's on a Network but hold your horses -- what we are actually doing is "Poodlefaking" the W7 machine into thinking it's running the printer. 4) Create NEW port==>Local port 5) Portname is\\XPMACHINE\SHAREDPRINTER 6) Now W7 will load a driver and you'll be able to print on the XP machine. Simple (For a "Network stand alone printer") at 4) chose TCPIP port and at 5) enter the IP address. If the printer is on the W7 machine and you want to print on the XP machine then do the same instructions on the XP machine -- port name in this case will be\\W7MACHINE\SHAREDPRINTER ..................................................................................... It worked fine for me, I wonder why Microsoft dont give this method as default? Michael" This method finally allowed me to print to this share on an XP machine that could not be used if installed as a network printer in Win 7 RC1. Problem solved.

Say buddy, this gives a bad name to poodles. Just what is "poodlefaking"?

Check this post and try what it suggests.

2) On the Network Browsing on your W7 machine ensure you can "See" the Printer share. THAT'S the part that isn't working... From my Win7 PC I cannot see any other workgroup PCs. The other PCs are all sharing folders and printers to each other w/o issue. The Win7 PC does have the same workgroup name! I can see and access my Windows Home Server from the Win7 PC. When I try to share out a folder on the Win7 PC my only option is to share to a "homegroup" which the other PCs are not, as they are not running IPv6. RATS!

I had a similar problem with the hp deskjet 720c on the rc...... When I tried to access the wireless computer over the network, it asked me for a password. I didn't have one on the computer, so I went and made one on both computers. When I was on the wireless computer, with windows 7, on the left side of windows explorer, I clicked on network, then on the name of the wired computer. Then, after I typed in the password that I just made, something caught my eye. Along with all the folders and drives, was an printer icon that was labeled 'hp deskjet 720C' (this is all in windows explorer). I double clicked on it, and it installed the printer. I then went to Devices and printers and saw a printer labeled "Hp Deskjet 720C on (comuter name) - PC". (When I added the printer using the 'Add a printer' function, the printer was named "HP Deskjet 720C"). I removed the printer named "HP Deskjet 720C" and set the one labeled "Hp Deskjet 720C on (comuter name) - PC" as the default printer. I then printed a test page from open office and WOOHOOO!!!.

I just wanted to say that this fix worked fine for me. Thanks so much.