Printer Driver

[merisangel]

I just purchased a laptop with W7 and I want to use my HP printer that is connected to my desktop that uses XP. I have connected to the network and W7 sees the printer but says it can't locate the driver. I connected the printer directly to the laptop and it set it up as the default printer and says it has the correct driver and even printed to it while connected. But when I disconnect the printer and put it back on the XP and try to connect to it thru the network the W7 says it can't find the '.inf' file. I know this file must be on the W7 machine since it set the printer up and printed to it when it was connected thru a USB port. It asks for a path to find the driver when I try to connect via the network, but when I do a search for 'inf' files I can't find any. Where is this driver located on the W7 machine?
Thanks for any help

 

[WalkerA WinTeam]

Hi merisangel,

In order for us to help you, we'll need to know your full system specifications. Please click "User CP" above, then click "Edit System Spec" and fill out everything as completely as possible. Also tell us what manufacturer and model printer you have.

Cheers,

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

 

[merisangel]

Ok, sorry I didn't fill in all the information at first, but I updated my User CP for you. The printer is a HP Deskjet 3940. The printer is connected to my Dell computer that is running XP.
If you need anything else, please let me know.
Meri

 

[woebetide]

@merisangel,

Maybe this can help you

Share Files and Printers between Windows 7 and XP - the How-To Geek

 

[merisangel]

Still no go

The W7 still says it can't find the driver for my HP Deskjet 3940 when I tell it to connect. I even tried putting in the printer CD and told it to look there for the driver, but no good. I have access to files on both stations put no printer. I know the driver is on the W7 because if I hook the printer up directly it installs and prints to it. But how do I find where that driver is on the W7?
Thanks,
Meri

 

[merisangel]

Got it fixed!

I read back in similar posts and found a post from 'gadgtman' dated 6-18-2009 and he wrote instructions on how to do a workaround and it worked for me!! May not be the way it's suppose to work, but having a printer linked to this laptop is what works for me!

 

[WalkerA WinTeam]

Hi merisangel,

Glad you were able to do a workaround! If you get a chance, could you please post a link to the solution that worked for you? If it was a long thread, just find the post, click the number in the top right corner (this post is #7, for example) and then copy the URL into a new post here. Thanks!

Cheers,

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

 

[merisangel]

Stopped working...urhhh

Ok, this is the post I used to do the workaround and today when I wanted to print it says the printer is offline and I can't figure out how to get it back!

http://www.sevenforums.com/drivers/2726-printer-network-no-driver.html#post136162

So I am going to re-do the instructions and hope that works. But I think it would be better is I could just find the driver file and have it installed during the regular process.
Thanks for a great forum!
Meri