Can't get the printer to work

[Pghpooh]

HI
It'S 2 am and I wanted to get this posted before I went to bed. I can?t get my printer to work as a network printer.
I use Verizon DSL for my internet service.
The modem/router is one provided by Verizon and it also is a wireless router.
When I installed the modem/router I used two ports as wired ports. One to my desktop computer and the other to my laptop.
Once I felt ok with the router I configured my laptop using the software installed on the laptop to detect the wireless router and once that was done I have used the laptop via the wireless feature.
The desktop is still hardwired to the router.
I want to use the laptop to send documents to the printer that is connected to the desktop pc. I used the setup software installed in the laptop to detect the printer and setup the connection. Then I went into the desktop pc to make sure the printer was set so I can share files
The desktop is running Win XP sp2 and the laptop is running Windows Vista Home Premium.
Do I need to and any drivers to the desktop to make the printer work with Vista?

When I do try to send a document to the printer from the laptop I get a window saying I have to activate the version of MS Word installed on the laptop before it will send or print anything. Is this really necessary???? I don?t want to use MS Word on the laptop.
Any and all help is needed and thanks for putting up with this long note!
Pghpooh

 

[bruceb]

First, all the computers and the printer need to be in the same Work Group
which will usually be the SSID (name of your network in the router config)
You also must enter any wireless passwords if you are connecting by wireless.

As to Word, is that the app you are using ? ? If it is and it was a trial version that
had expired, then it will not print.

Also check in you printers folder ... see what you have, you may need to remove
and reinstall the proper one and set it as a Default Printer

 

[Pghpooh]

HI
The MS Word software is the trial version that came with the laptop. I was able to configure the laptop to use the version of Word that came installed with MS Works. That should be a permanent copy.

I'll look at the other parts of your suggestions and see what I can do, Not sure how much progress I'll make as I had my grandkids here all day and they wore me out!!! LOL
Thanks
Pghpooh