laserjet 1020 with Vista client

[DaveScott]

Recently switched from dual XP wired networking environment with the 1020 locally attached to two new machines, one running Vista and the other downgraded to XP pro. The laserjet is locally attached to the XP pro box. No problem printing from XP box, but Vista can't connect to the 1020 and kills the printer spooler each time a connect is attempted. The Vista box can connect to the shared folder on the XP pro box and both read and write to that folder.

While looking at the printer share settings on the XP pro box, the driver for Vista is not listed as an option. But a number of earlier versions of Windows, clear back to Win98 are listed as options.

While trying to find a solution on the Microsoft website, I ran across some information about Vista using a different printer discovery protocol compared to XP.

Today while browsing hp's website, I discovered information about a Universal Print Driver. I went to that page and downloaded both the PCL and PS  (postscript) versions of the UPD to the Vista box and installed both on the Vista box. The PS version  was able to "see" the 1020 attached to the XP box, but was unable to connect to the printer (as usual).

The PCL version of the UPD could not even "see" the 1020 attached to the XP box.

Since a number of the questions here on the forums relate to networking printers with Vista as the host and XP as the client, I'm wondering if perhaps it would be a better/shorter path to solution to move the 1020 over to the Vista box and attempt networking the XP box (now as client) to the Vista box (now as host)?

TIA,

Dave 

[DaveScott]

This issue may be solved. In looking at the LaserJet 1020 from the Vista client networking (Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network Connections) I found there was a Broadband Connection set as default and connected, device name WAN Miniport (PPPOE) with me as the owner. I also found a Local Area Connection accessing to Local and Internet, Private Network, Owner: system.

I was unable to set the Local Area Connection as default, but was able to disconnect the Broadband Connection. All this is on the Vista box. As soon as the Braodband connection was disconnected I was able to access the laser 1020 and print a test page. To further check things out I opened a browser window and selected print of the home page. The printer dropdown now shows the share name as an option where it didn't show up before. Printing to that share immediately printed to the 1020 attached to the XP box.

But wait, there's more! I  just discovered the XP box is powered  OFF!  

Now there are two variables to consider: the default on the Vista box has been changed and the XP box is off. 

Curiouser and Curiouser

Dave