vista & xp on 2 computers, 1 printer- can they share the printer?

My home network is 2 computers, one is XP (the one the printer USB is hooked
up to), the new one is Vista (the one that is connected wirelessly to the
network). I was able to set up the network and download the driver from
Lexmark's website but it still won't print. It says it can't communicate, but
I can see everything (network, printer) on the Vista. I called Lexmark and
they said that I cannot share a printer if I have 2 different OS and that I
would need to buy a print server. Is that true or is there another way to do
it??!! Thanks to anyone that can help me!

 

I can see the xp's files from the vista, but I can't see the vista's files
from the xp. I think I can fix that, but I still don't know why it won't let
me print from the vista...

 

Sarah,

A computer running Windows XP (or any other version of Windows) is capable of
sharing resources with a computer running Windows Vista. It's possible, though,
that the Lexmark drivers won't support Vista. Can you share files between the 2
computers? That's where I would start. Get file sharing, in general, working,
then work on printer sharing.
<http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/12/windows-xp-and-vista-on-lan-together.html>
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/2006/12/windows-xp-and-vista-on-lan-together.html

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.

 

Sarah,

Network printing works through the same subsystem that file sharing works
through, but it involves more drivers. Every printer comes with its own set of
drivers, which are frequently specific to the operating system.

It's possible that your printer is not compatible with Vista, or that Lexmark
simply hasn't written Vista drivers for it. That being the case, the Lexmark
tech support folks want you to host the printer on a print server (a separate
computer, with its own operating system), and you would print using generic
drivers.

It's also possible that they don't know why you are having a problem, and they
are blowing you off.

If you believe that the latter might be true, than it is up to you to diagnose
the problem. That's why I am suggesting that you get file sharing working,
because file sharing and printer sharing work on top of Windows Networking.
Printer sharing, when it works, requires additional drivers, which as I state
above, have to be supplied by Lexmark.

Do you see the complexities here?

--
Cheers,
Chuck, MS-MVP [Windows - Networking]
http://nitecruzr.blogspot.com/
Paranoia is not a problem, when it's a normal response from experience.
My email is AT DOT
actual address pchuck mvps org.