Windows 7 - Need homegroup printer help!!!!

My company has two machines running on a d-link wired router. One is a desktop running win 7 pro, the other is a wi-fi enabled laptop also running 7 pro. When we connect the laptop to the network, the homegroup kicks in and everything is as its supposed to be, except for printing.

When we try to print, we have to reboot the back office computer to get it to print from the laptop, and we have to do that on each document. I know that network discovery is enabled, and that the laptop is seen on the homegroup.

We also know that a static IP for the laptop may be a fix, however at $60 more a year for a maybe, the higher ups dont want to do that.

Does anyone have another way around this issue?

Are all machines part of the same workgroup?

Yes

Are you running any third party security applications on either machine?

Avast AV, and ad-aware anniversary edition.

First, check your firewall settings. Then, I would try uninstalling Adaware (I don't care for it much lately) on all machines, rebooting, then seeing if the problem persists.

I'll give that a shot this morning and post back with what happens.

Didnt help any.

How about if you disable homegroups and just use the workgroup? Also, what printer do you have? Do you have updated drivers for it? Are there any known issues with it when used on a Windows 7 machine?

You will need to add the drivers for the printer to both computers. If you have an install disk, use that. Make sure 'share printer' is checked in both machines.