Hi - I am confused (not for the first time!). I have recently purchased a new PC with Windows 7 64bit O/S. A couple of weeks ago, using this new PC, I was able to view and connect to an elderly but servicable HP Lasetjet 4+ Printer which is connected to my network via a BT HomeHub 3.

Today it did not print and the printer is no longer visible in "Printers & Faxes" "Add a Printer" "Add a Network Printer" as it was before. I have another PC running XP PRo which is able to connect and print to the Lasejet 4+ via the network and perversely that DOES show up as a network printer in the Add network printer dialogue. I can add it to my Windows 7 PC and print! Of course only when the XP PC is on.

Windows 7 help please!

I am confused as to how this printer is connected. It is connected to directly to the HomeHub which is serving as a print server or is it connected to the XP computer which is sharing the printer?

You say you can add it to your Windows 7 machine print. So the problem is resolved?

The best way to share a printer is by using a print server. Then no computer has to be on for any other computer to print.

What some times happens when trying to print via network sharing is IP addresses get confused. So my "guess" would be your Win7 machine is not printing to the correct IP address for the printer.

As I said, the printer is connected directly to the HomeHub. It was not visible on the W7 PC but I COULD print to it from my XP PC AND I could also print to it from the W7 PC by viewing the XP PC on the network and accessing the printer through the XP PC.

Bizarre.

However, glad to say, I seem to have resolved the issue by loading an old Hewlet Packard JetAdmin program on the XP PC (it won't run on W7) and viewing th IP address of the printers onboard network card, entering this address on the W7 PC when "adding a new printer". It then connected, loaded a driver and prints fine.

Why it didn't show up automatically I've no idea.

Thanks for your response.

I am glad you got it sorted out and thanks for the followup.

I note when looking at the spec of the HomeHub, I don't see where it supports print serving. So if me, I would still look at getting a print server. There's no sharing with a server.