Netgear DGN2200, Win7, Win XP, No printer access or file sharing

I bought a NETGEAR DGN2200 modem/router to connect my 2 laptops, printer, USB HDD for file storage and sharing, and at this stage I'm not sure if I will connect my desktop PC as it is a much older machine with Windows 2000 Pro which I don't want to access the internet, although I am thinking that it would be better to have the printer connected via the desktop as this is logically a more permanent setup.

Hard wired ADSL will be connected in about 2 weeks.

I was having a bit of a play with the router to familiarise myself with it all and I managed to set it up so that my main laptop (win7) has the option to connect by hardwire or wireless, my second laptop (winXP) conects through wireless. Both laptops successfully connected

I connected the printer to my second laptop (winXP) to see if I could have access to the printer from my main laptop (win7). It could see the printer but not access it and kept trying to search for the diver.
As I hadn't installed the drivers onto this laptop I thought that if I download the driver and install it, then it won't look for it through windows update via the router.
For this to happen, I had to disconnect from the LAN and connect to the internet via my USB modem (the two won't work simultaneously).
So I connected the printer to my main laptop and allowed it to find the driver online itself.
I then connected the printer back into the second laptop (winXP) and tried to access it from my main laptop and the same thing happened, it wanted to search windows update again. After failing to find anything through the windows update, it gives the option of browsing for the .inf file on the computer, and although I spent a while trying to locate where the file was I was unsuccessful.

I also am unable to share files between the two laptops, although I have turned file and print sharing on with both laptops. I have seen options to set up workgroups (winXP) and homegroups (win7), but the two are not compatible.

I am running Nortons 360 on main laptop (win7) and currently still running AVG free/windows firewall on second laptop (winXP) until I change it to Nortons 360 also. I have had a quick look into the settings but can't see anything that might be blocking file and print sharing options.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

I have managed to nut this out to some extent...
I looked at this site on how to share files and printers between windows 7 and xp Share Files and Printers between Windows 7 and XP - How-To Geek
I followed all the steps, and found that by changing the password protected sharing to off (new laptop win7), I could then view the public folder from the old laptop winxp however, from the new laptop win 7, I am still unable to view folders on the old laptop winxp.
As far as the printer is concerned. The old winxp laptop had a canon S300 driver file for xp installed (this is the correct driver and the one which I have been using for years). The new laptop had a Canon Inkjet S300 driver file installed, and this was causing failure through the network. I have found that by changing the driver file on both laptops to Canon Bubblejet BJC 3000 driver file, I can now access the printer through the network. I'm yet to see if this causes much of a problem as far as quality of print as the printer is actually a Canon Bubblejet S300

gemini2010 said:

I have managed to nut this out to some extent...
I looked at this site on how to share files and printers between windows 7 and xp Share Files and Printers between Windows 7 and XP - How-To Geek
I followed all the steps, and found that by changing the password protected sharing to off (new laptop win7), I could then view the public folder from the old laptop winxp however, from the new laptop win 7, I am still unable to view folders on the old laptop winxp.
As far as the printer is concerned. The old winxp laptop had a canon S300 driver file for xp installed (this is the correct driver and the one which I have been using for years). The new laptop had a Canon Inkjet S300 driver file installed, and this was causing failure through the network. I have found that by changing the driver file on both laptops to Canon Bubblejet BJC 3000 driver file, I can now access the printer through the network. I'm yet to see if this causes much of a problem as far as quality of print as the printer is actually a Canon Bubblejet S300

That's a good tutorial, I've posted it myself many times.

I think as long as printing works from your other machines the print quality shouldn't be affected.