Connecting Network Printer Issue

Home Network:
Old WindowsXP Desktop with 2 printers attached (Brother B&W Laser and Lexmark 2500)
Vsta Laptop - 32-bit
Windows7 Laptop - 64-bit
Windows7 Netbook Laptop - 32-bit starter
(2nd) Windows7 Laptop - 64-bit

Everthing works fine... except... I can't connect to either printer from the new windows7 Laptop I just added. I can "see" the printers but can't connect. I have disconnected and restarted the modem and router, and re-booted all systems. When I try to use the add printer wizard for a network printer, it recognizes the printer on the desktop, but can't connect. States it's checking Windows Update and can't find a driver on the network... same results for both printers attached to the desktop.

All 5 computers can access each other's documents, and the other 3 laptops can print. If memory serves me correctly, in the past they were all able to add the printers through the add printer wizard. Any thoughts?

BTW - the new laptop is using the 30 day free trial of Norton Anti-virus and the others use different ant-virus software. I even tried turning off Norton's firewall briefly, but it had no effect.

Thanks

 

Out of town for a couple of days, but wil try when I return. Thanks

 

I tried both methods. Neither worked. When I tried the Local Printer option and add the port name of my printer, the message stated it already exists. I have two other laptops (VISTA & Windows7) on my home nework which can print to through the XP Desktop. This is another new Windows7 Laptop I've added to my network.

Everhting else works on the new laptop... internet, sharing files and I can see the printer... but can't connect.

I'm open to any other ideas. Thanks

 

Has 64bit drivers for the printers been installed on the new laptop?

 

Yes and No.

I'm now able to print on my Lexmark X2500. All I did was download the Win7 driver and install it on my new laptop. It gave me the option during the installation to state the printer was connected on another PC within my network. When installation was complete, I was able to print immediately... with no need to use the Add Printer Wizard.

Different story with the Brother DCP7020 printer. Downloaded the Win7 driver and attempted to install. However, during the installation I was REQUIRED to plug in the printer, or cancel. It did not give the option to state the printer was actually connected on another system within my network. I even tried the 'Custom' installation, hoping to see that option... but I wasn't.

I don't remember what I did 2 years ago when I set up my other Win7 laptop. Both laptops are using the 64-bit OS. The Brother DCP7020 is actually the default printer on that laptop.

Any other ideas? Thanks

 

Take the Brother printer from the XP computer and connect it to the laptop. Install the driver. Then take it back to the XP computer.

 

Interesting! I recently installed the driver for Brother MFC-630CD (also installed on a different machine), and it did not require the printer to be physically connected.

However, even after installing the driver successfully, I was unable to connect to that printer over the network. That only changed after I uninstalled the ZoneAlarm firewall on the machine where the printer is physically connected.