XP network printing problem

[lbhskier37]

I have a shared printer on my main computer that I am having trouble printing to from my laptop. When I print from the laptop it shows up in the print que on the main computer, but doesnt print, even after an hour of waiting. When I reboot the main computer though, it always starts printing right away as soon as it reboots. Anyone ever seen this?

 

[Lemon law]

To take a shot in the dark, I have heard that sometimes it helps in printer sharing to set up static network addresses for the client PC's on the network.

I also ask---if its on the main computer's que--can you tell it to print from the printer que on the main computer without rebooting?---by that I mean when you are on the main computer.
And for that matter--will turning the printer off and then on do the same as a reboot?

And are you networking with ICS or with a router?

 

[lbhskier37]

From the main computers que it just lists status as printing, but never prints. If I try to delete it from the que on the main computer it just sits at deleting and never actually deletes, but after rebooting it starts to print. Rebooting the printer doesnt help, unplugging it and replugging it in doesn't help, logging out and back in on the main computer doesnt help, only rebooting the main computer gets it to print.

BTW I am on a router.

 

[lbhskier37]

bump

 

[coupland]

How is the printer connected to the main computer? USB, parallel port, or direct network-attached? If it's either of the former then it's related to hardware, as the job only prints after the port is re-initialized by a power cycle.