Problem sharing printer

Can,t see my shared printer from 2 laptops. All connections xp and wireless. I can browse to remote printer, just cannot see shared printer. Follwing the xp instructions, my next step is to check the file/print sharing checkbox on the windows firewall of the pc with the shared printer. I get a message saying I cannot open the firewall even to view the properties sheet due some unnamed condition.
Any ideas what could render the firewall unaccessible?

mike