If you cannot access the shared printer in Windows Vista, the trick is to add the printer as a local printer and then try printing. Follow next instructions to accomplish that:

1. Go into Control Panel
2. In Hardware and Sound category, click – Printer
3. Click – Add a printer from the top menu
4. Click – Add a Local Printer
5. Choose – Create a New Port with type of port remaining Local Port,
6. click Next
7. In the Port Name box type the path to the printer you wish to connect to and Click Ok. Examples:
   

   1. \\networkcomputer\networkprinter
   2. if network computer is named “john”, and the network printer is “HP” then you can write \\john\HP

8. In the Install Printer Driver screen, select your printer from the list or choose Have Disk and find the location of the printer drivers on the computer then click Next and then click Finish.
9. Now you can see the printer installed in the Printers window.
10. Right-click on the printer and click Properties
11. On the General tab, click Print Test Page to test the printer.

Now you can print in Windows Vista to the network printer.

Tags | Howto, Installation, Networking, Tips and Tricks, Vista, Windows