I too, have gone through the same thing. Have recently added a mini mac with OSX 6.5.4 to the strictly windows 7 network, but for days have not been able to access the printer connected to my main desktop running Windows 7 64 bit, no matter what I did. . . .until now.
I activated LPD Print Services and LPR Port Monitor enabled on my Windows 7 host. Done through control panel, Programs and Features, Turn Windows Features on or off, Print and Document Services.
I made sure that the printer was actually shared by looking in Network, (not Homegroup) accessed through My Computer, and highlighting Network in the left pane. Did the Add a printer listed in the menu (even though I already completed these steps through Control Panel, Network and Sharing). Gave the printer a simple name, with no spaces and wrote down the information add a printer gave me when completed (e.g.,
\\windows7computername\printername).
Checked my IP address through ipconfig, and wrote is down, something similar to this: 192.168.1.xxx. (as it was needed for the address when setting up the printer on the Mac.
Made sure the Windows 7 host and its printer, a Canon (connected vis USB) were on.
On the mac, proceded to add the printer. Not sure of your OS on the Mac, but I have OSX 6.5.4.
Under System Preferences, click Print & Fax; click the + sign to add the new printer; added the Advanced Icon to the toolbar; Clicked Advanced; under Type, select LPD/LPR; leave Device box alone; Under URL, typed in something similar to this after lpd:// (which was already there) windows7loginname

assword@windowsmachineIPaddress/printername
For example: lpd://JaneQ.Geek:
[email protected]/HP123
Named the printer, Printer (really exciting). Left Location empty, as I know where the printer is, and selected the appropriate dirvers by make and model from Print Using box. Clicked Add.
Did a test run. After hours of frustration, it finally worked for me.
Have to leave the host computer and printer on, of course.
I hope this is helpful, and nothing vital has been left out.
LRBTinker