Rick, you have to create a Network between the 2 of them 1st.
Below is how to do it.
Once done, go to Vista's Network and Sharing, and click on Add Network
Device(or control panel>add hardware, etc), and browse to the XP's
Printer(not add a vista printer!), and run the wizard.
Make sure that you have a Vista compatible Driver for the Printer, or access
to one!
Check at Printer's manufacturer's website to see if the have written one for
Vista.
If the haven't; end of story!
And make sure XP's file and printer sharing is ON
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb727037.aspx
Have a read of the above link re Vista File and Printer Sharing.
Permissions/Share info is there as well.
If using Norton, McAfee, Trend Micro I.S., make sure file and printer
sharing is enabled in THEIR firewall (or LAN allowed, depending on how their
Exceptions are worded in their Firewall)
1st thing to do is make sure that the Workgroup Name of ALL the computers is
the SAME.
In Vista Network and Sharing:
Network Discovery: ON (So it can see the other computers)
Network set to Private (Public is for hotspots, airports, etc)
File Sharing: ON
Public Folder Sharing: ON (Vista’s Public Folder is the same as XP’s Shared
Docs)
Password Protected: OFF (unless you want to set up identical usernames and
passwords (passwords can be different) on ALL computers in your Network) If
you have it ON, you will be asked for a username and password when you try to
access a Vista computer from an XP computer, or a Vista computer.
Also, run the XP’s Home or Small Office Network File and Printer Sharing
Wizard to include Vista in your “New†Network, even if you had an XP Network
set up prior to adding a Vista computer to it(redoing the Wizard seems to
work for XP machines!).
In “My Network Placesâ€: “Set up a Home or Small Office Networkâ€
OR under Accessories > Communications > Network Setup Wizard > Allow File
and Printer Sharing.
