Home network Printer problem

[markyparky99]

I am unable to print remotely on a home network.

The network consists of two PC's. The printer is connected to PC1
(running XP SP2), there are no problems printing from PC1.

PC2 (runnning Vista) has no other network problem other than the
inability to print to the printer on PC1. PC2 can access the
internet, save files into shared folders on PC1, "see" the printer on
PC1 - indeed, when I change the share name of the printer, the new
name is visible from PC2.

Printing to the remote printer from PC2 appears to put the file onto a
print queue, but it never gets to PC1.

I have tried checking everything I can think of and read various
posts. The two computers have the same workgroup name and as
mentioed, remote folder access is fine. I can ping the two computers
from each other, as you would expect. The printer is set to be shared
in the properties bit. Windows firewall is set to off on both
computers; McAfee has recently been installed on both computers
replacing Norton (both supplied by my ISP).

I don't know if it is relevant, but the printer folder under system32/
spool is not marked as shared while the corresponding driver folder
is. Of course being an OS folder, I cannot manually make it shared -
at least not through the basic method.

Once, long ago, it was possible to print to the printer remotely. I
never could figure out what stopped it and my son simply copies any
files that he wants printing onto a memory stick and plugs that into
PC1 to print.

Any suggestions, recommendations would be much appreciated

Mark,
England

[nitecruzr]

Mark,

You say "appears to put the file onto a print queue, but it never gets
to PC1.".

What appearnce, specifically, do you note? Can you look at the print
queue, when printing from PC1? When you print from PC2, do you see
anything similar?

[markyparky99]

On PC2, I can see files queued in printer queue window. However, they
just sit there (see below also). If I look at the local printer queue
on PC1, there is nothing there.

Also, I have noticed this evening that on PC2 (Vista) the very first
document that is sent after adding the PC1 printer just diappears - it
never shows on the printer queue on PC2 (or if it does, it's very
quick). Subsequent docs show in the print queue - as though queued up
behind a problem file. The number of docs associated with the printer
in the "printers" window shows as +1 compared to the number of docs in
the printer queue window.