Windows 7: Wireless printer super-slow, firewall problem? how to fix?

Had to re-install HP4500 AIO printer after getting new wireless router. Not sure if it makes a difference, but am using WPA encryption now -- previously no encryption. Anyway, the printer software is installed on 2 laptops, one is Vista, the other (main computer) is Windows 7 x64. Using either one of these to send a 10-charracter Notepad document to the printer, it takes like 3 minutes for it to print out.

At one point during a test-print from the HP installation routine, I got a message about problems connecting with the printer and instructions to make sure the firewall was configured such that a certain port would allow the printer to work, but lost that window while I was trying to figure out how in the heck to see port settings and/or change them.

Appreciate any advice!

Welcome to Seven Forums nwislander. You might start with HP's Home Network Diagnostic Utility

HP Home Network Diagnostic Utility - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

A Guy

Easiest way to test if a firewall is maybe interfereing is to ping the printer's ip address if it times out then chances are the firewall is the culprit.

Hi nwislander, Welcome to the forums, another thing to check is ,In the printer device properties make sure to put a check mark against "print directly to computer" this will speed things up

Binnngggg-go! "print directly to computer" did the trick! Have to say, it's kinda counter-intuitive (to me). I thought I was printing "from" the computer What does "print directly to computer" mean exactly? Thanks!

Thanks to A Guy and TheCyberMan too, both of those tips will come in handy for future problems I'm sure.

And thanks for the Welcome.

Yeah, Pebbly is the smart one A Guy

Nice pebbly.

Hi nwislander, It means that processing documents are done by the computer memory instead of using the printer memory ,that's the easiest way to describe it
Thankk you A.Guy and The cyberman for your kind comments , really appreciated