Windows 7: can see networked XP printer but can't print

My Windows 7 computer is part of a home network that also has an XP machine. (Windows 7 Home Premium, 64 bit, SP 1; XP Home Edition 2002, SP 3). I want to print from the Windows 7 machine to a printer connected to the XP machine (an HP DeskJet 832C, with sharing enabled). This used to work fine when I had two XP machines, but doesn't now that one's been replaced with a Windows 7 machine.

The Windows 7 machine prints properly on a printer connected directly to it, and the XP machine has no trouble printing on the HP, so each computer does have the proper driver for the printer that's connected to it. The Windows 7 "Devices and Printers" list includes the HP printer, which suggests that the Windows 7 machine can see it. The "Additional drivers" button under "Sharing" on the HP's Printer Properties is grayed out, which I thought meant that the Windows 7 machine has a driver for this printer. Print Preferences look the way I expect them to for this printer, which also led me to think that the Windows 7 machine has the correct driver.

But -- I get a print error when I attempt to print on it from the Windows 7 machine. The document appears to spool properly from the Windows 7 machine, but the HP printer doesn't show any sign that it's been contacted or is trying to print. The document doesn't show up on the HP's print list on the XP computer (Settings / Printers and Faxes / etc...) and the printer's operating lights don't flash.

Windows 7's Troubleshooter suggested that I make the HP the Windows 7 machine's default printer. That won't do for everyday, but I tried it to see if it resolved the problem. It didn't. Now I'm wondering whether the Windows 7 machine does need an XP driver for the HP printer. Might that be the problem? What else might be going on?

Thanks for any ideas.

Have you actually installed the printer on the 7 PC.

7 looks at the whole network and adds things all by itself but that does not mean they are installed on the 7 PC.

Best is to go to the HP site, see if they have a win 7 driver for that printer, download it and run it to install the printer.

I have a HP B9180 printer connected to my Win 7 PC by USB. Before I installed the drivers for that printer it showed up in Printers and devices. But I couldn't print to it. No driver was installed.

Here's what I found.
HP Deskjet 830/832c Printer series*-* Download drivers and software - specify product name - HP Business Support Center

Look at snip capture.


I have an old HP Deskjet 6122 that works fine with both laptop and desktop. They do not talk to each other for a reason but both work with Deskjet 6122.

Right that is what I thought. But just because Win 7 sees this shared device does not mean it is read for use.
The OP has to go to control panel, Devices & Printers and ADD a printer, selecting the shared printer on the XP PC. Then Win 7 will install whatever driver it need to access this printer on the XP PC.

He needs to connect printer by a USB cable.
Shut the system down/re boot/then plug the USB cable in and let win 7 find it.
Have a great evening everyone.

Thanks, Howling Wolves and Shootist. I tried Jimbo's solution from the thread Still not able to print on networked printer -- letting Windows 7 set the HP up as a local printer -- but Windows Update couldn't find an appropriate driver. However, the HP link that Howling Wolves sent should let me download one if I connect the HP printer directly to the Windows 7 machine. Maybe that'll do the trick. I'll try it tomorrow and let the list know what happens.

That did it -- When I connected the HP printer directly to the Windows 7 machine, Windows Update did find & install a driver for it. Then I put the printer back on the XP machine and re-added it to the Windows 7 machine as a networked printer. Works fine, now.

Thanks for your help.