Printer Sharing Issue within a Work Network

I am having some issues with sharing a printer on the network here at the office. I have read over numerous posts about this issue which I will provide links so you can see all the various steps that I have taken to try and fix this issue.

The issue is alluding me in terms of fixing the issue. Here is how I need to configure the connection in order to allow 3 computers to print from the same printer.

Desktop #1 Windows 7 Professional ~ Networked with the Correct Workgroup and can share all files back and forth with other PC's on the network. This one has the printer connected through a USB direct connection which is also shared. I need to allow the other PC's to print using this connection.

Desktop #2 Windows XP Professional ~ Networked with the correct Workgroup and can share all files back and forth with other PC's including those with Windows 7. I need to use the printer connected to Desktop #1. All documents and formats will not print at all.

Laptop #3 Windows 7 Professional ~ Networked with the Correct Workgoup and can share all files back and forth with other PC's on the network. I need to use the printer connected to Desktop #1 in order to print Documents. All documents and formats will not print at all.

The issues that I am having is that Desktop #1 can print all documents just fine with the printer which is a Magicolor 2500W Laser printer. I have all the latest drivers on all operating systems including those for XP and for Windows 7.

When I get on Desktop #2 with XP Professional to add the printer from Desktop #1 it adds it just fine. I can print using test page however none of the documents that I want to print like word or a pdf file will print. It was giving me the error message that no printer was detected message so I followed the procedure from this post to configure the connection with the Local Port Option discussed here.

XP to 7 Printer sharing

After going through and setting it up using the local port trick I get the following error on Desktop #1's printer interface which shows what is printing. This message is the result of Desktop #2 being connected through the Local Port Option.



This remote downlevel document issue pops up every 5 secs and will simply not allow any of the documents to print so I have to disable the Local Port Option on Desktop #2 in order for it to stop. Any suggestions on how to over come this?

The issue with the Laptop #3 running Windows 7 Professional is that it will add the printer just fine however when I go to print the screen pops up and then disapears. For some reason it will not print any documents from the printer connected to Desktop #1 running Windows 7 Professional. This should be a non issue considering both are running the same OS and I have set both to the proper settings in the advanced network settings. It will also print a test page just fine. So I am a little bit confused on what is causing the issue.

I have also double checked the sharing path names on all PC's to make sure that the names are correct as well.

I have also tried both of these other options including double checking the ports in the firewall to make sure that the proper ports are open and allowing traffic.

I Tried This
Printer Sharing Windows 7 RC 64 to Vista 32
and this
Networking home computers running different versions of Windows

I have spent countless hours on this trying fixes and reading through threads on various forums to find a work around solution for this. I personally like Windows 7 and am in the process of putting together a plan to upgrade all office PC's to 7 within the next 6 months. However before I take on that mamoth undertaking I need to know what work around solutions are available in order to properly share all network resources.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as it is causing work productivity issues here in the office. Thanks and I look forward to hearing your suggestions and solutions. If you need any other information from me please let me know.

Aaron
IT Tech by Day, Radio By Night
www.voiceoftruthradio.com

Hi Oli thanks for the reply. Its not a ethernet printer. It is strictly USB the model number is Konica Minolta Magicolor 2500W.

Hi PooMan,

Ok on Desktop #1 Had the Vista Driver which installed fine and allows Windows 7 to print to the printer directly when plugged in.

The Laptop #3 had the xp drivers installed. When I plugged it into the laptop directly it would not print other then a test page. So I uninstalled the printer and installed the Vista Driver which allowed the laptop to directly print all docs when plugged directly in.

Now when I use the connection on Desktop #1 to print a word document from the Laptop #3 it does not work and will not let me print other then a test page. About troubleshooting it is always a pain :) however forums make it nice so we can share it with others . Thanks for the warm welcome and for the help it is very much appreciated.

I will see what I can do. I have to run it by the owner who has boughten about 4 of these machines for the office so he could just deal with one type of ink rather then 5 different types