Win 7 Pro (32 bit) HP Printer won't print

Hi - I am new and this is my first post and I am not very tech knowledgeable, so please excuse my ignorance. I bought a new computer loaded with Win 7 Pro (32 bit). I installed all of my programs and everything worked fine, until I tried to set up my HP printer - which both Win 7 & HP say is Win 7 compatible (though it is an older printer). Windows Update found the printer, downloaded the driver and set it as my default printer with a big green arrow saying "Ready." When I try to print something (no matter the source) I get a pop up that indicates the document is being sent to the printer, then nothing happens, as if it just times out before the printer ever receives the signal (no flashing lights on printer - nothing). Then I check the printer queue and it is in there with an error. I delete the job and then check the printer in the control panel - and it has a big yellow ! - so I run troubleshooting and it says that it couldn't print because another job is in the printer queue.

I have tried all the suggestions for stopping the printer spooler and clearing the queue and restarting the spooler - and then everything appears to be OK again ready to print, (I get the big green arrow ready sign on printer icon again) - but then the same thing happens again. I have even tried another HP printer and all is the same. I have installed both printers, removed both printers, restored the machine back to arrival time, started everything all over, run MS's Mr. Fix It program for printer problems, done everything I can find with batch files, etc., all to no avail. I desperately need a printer that works. My internet searches indicate that many others out there have had the same problem with Win 7 and printers, but I never find the right answer.

Can anyone here help me? Is it something in the registry"? Is it the printer drivers even though HP says they are supported for Win 7? Is there some software that will fix it. I am willing to buy a new printer, if that would do it, but what's the point if something is corrupted in the Win 7 registry? Thanks much for any advice I can get. Very Frustrated.

The model is an HP Laserjet 6P and I have also tried with my HP Laserjet 1200. Thanks.

That is odd. If you go to Windows 7 compatibilty site and put in HP Laserjet 6P - it shows a green arrow check for compatibility on Win 7 (32 bit) which is exactly why I went ahead got Win 7 loaded instead of XP Pro. Also when I go to HP and put in HP Laserjet 6P - it shows that Windows 7 does have the supported driver in Windows Update and it did show up in Windows Update when I used it to download the driver.

I will gladly go buy a newer printer if that is what you suggest. Also, would it help to download the Virtual XP mode to run in Win 7 - do you suggest that? Thanks

Not sure how you do that - install in Vista compatibility mode. Can you help me out there.

Thanks!