laptop to desktop

I have a desktop running xp that is connected to the dsl modem via a wireless router, I also have a laptop that connects to the the dsl modem wirelessly through the wirelss router. My desktop has a printer hooked to it, how do I set up my laptop to use that printer wirelessly?

BTW I tried networking the desktop and laptop together but my vista laptop won't show that my xp desktop is on the network but my xp desktop does.

 

Go to printers and faxes,click add printer,then click scan for computers select add printer that connected to another computer,make sure printer is part of the correct network ie.. mshome,workgroup etc... Plus make sure to share the printer.

 

Well thats the problem, my desktop won't show up on my laptop when I view (NETWORK) on my vista laptop. But when I get on my desktop it shows that my laptop is part of my network, but for some reason my laptop will only show itself and my router as the only networked devices.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

If the desktop has a firewall turned on, make sure it isn't blocking Windows networking. If you're using the XP built-in firewall, make sure that there's an "exception" allowed for file and printer sharing.

 

which version of XP do you have on your desktop?

 

Okay I got my print and file sharing working but the printer won't work. The only page that will print from my laptop is the print test page after I install the printer on the laptop. I hooked the printer up with a USB cable to the laptop and it worked great so I know that even though its a old non vista compatible printer it will work with Vista. I am finding it really weird that it will print the printer installation test page when running wireless but nothing else, and it will print anything when I wire it direct to the printer with a USB cable.

BTW even though it does print the test page it takes it around a minute to start printing and then when it does it prints really slow. Also it does this with all firewalls on or off without any differences. Also I have no problems recognizing the printer and it is set up as my default printer on my laptop, also I can share files back and forth between my XP Pro Desktop, and my Vista laptop but the printer just refuses to work.

Any ideas?

 

Anyone ever had this problem?

 

Here is how to fix it, I finally figured it out after days of trying and research and I found most of this info online but not on Microsoft support because apparently they have no clue.


Go to Control Panel. Choose printer. Then choose Add Printer.

Choose Add a local printer. Click on Create a new port. The default in the drop down box is Local Port. Do not change that. Click Next.

A dialog box will appear asking for you to enter a port name. Type in the \\computer name\printer name. My computer's name is DESKTOP-3065 and the printer name is 3520-printer so I typed in \\DESKTOP-3065\3520-printer

I guess Microsoft thinks printers on an intra net are local.