home wireless printing?

I've read a bucketload of posts and followed numerous links (just about
googled-out), even purchased a "Visually" book, but none of the steps
worked. Even the pictures were different.

this is what I have:

pc1 - desktop, xpPro sp1,USB netcomm wireless adapter
("driver not verified by xp" message when installed)
local printer attached.
this is my dvd burning machine and it doesn't make coasters, so
I am reluctant (extremely) to upgrade it to sp2.

pc2 - notebook, xpPro sp2, inbuilt wi-fi (broadcom)

router - wireless 4 port DLink, connected to powerpoint and phone line.
Set up router, provided wep key.

both pc's connect (after entering wep key the first time) to the internet,
both pc's can be on the internet individually or at the same time
(ICS has not been set up, unless this is the default).

What I'm trying to do is print from pc2 to pc1's printer, preferably
not via the router (ad-hoc, is that the correct term?)

I've tried (100% failure rate - at least I'm consistent):

1) (pc1) network wizard/workgroup name MSHOME, copy to flash drive,
run netsetup from flash on pc2. (there was never any mention
of wireless doing it this way)

2) reverse of (1), but pc1 wouldn't recognize the program on the flash
(perhaps an sp1 v sp2 thing), but from pc2 (sp2) there was a 'wireless' wizard

3) pc1 - getting to the 'properties'(?) box - the one where you can add
or remove, move up or down. clicked on add - enter an SSID (which is about
all you can do). This was detected on pc2, clicked connect -
waiting...waiting...waiting... eventually dies

4) even tried this using the router, from pc2 add printer/network/browse
double click on 'microsoft windows network' -
waiting...waiting...waiting... eventually dies

all the above were tried with firewall/antivirus off

I've looked at the homeNetHelp and ezlan sites, but couldn't find
anything to match what I have - the best was a tutorial via ICS, which
is not my setup (I don't think it is, anyway).

There was a couple of MS pages with 'Bowman' in the link, I started to
follow one of those, but the pictures were different - some options
that had to be changed didn't appear on my pc

Is there any site with detailed instructions on how to do this?
If the site is labelled 'for the dumbest of dummies' that's OK.
If the site starts out 'step 1 - turn on power point' - that's also OK.

any pointers appreciated.

next step undecided -
computer shop to buy a second printer, or
hardware store to get a 16lb sledgehammer (payback!)

"Michael Dunn" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:eYkH$%(E-Mail Removed)...
> I've read a bucketload of posts and followed numerous links (just about
> googled-out), even purchased a "Visually" book, but none of the steps
> worked. Even the pictures were different.

You don't mention if the printer is shared or not. It has to be shared in
order to see it on the network.

Tom Lake

"Tom Lake" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
:
: "Michael Dunn" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
: news:eYkH$%(E-Mail Removed)...
: > I've read a bucketload of posts and followed numerous links (just about
: > googled-out), even purchased a "Visually" book, but none of the steps
: > worked. Even the pictures were different.
:
: You don't mention if the printer is shared or not. It has to be shared in
: order to see it on the network.
:
: Tom Lake


I knew I'd forget a few details!

the radio button for sharing is selected (icon has the hand at the bottom of it)

"Diamontina Cocktail" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:ua6$(E-Mail Removed)...
:
: "Michael Dunn" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
: news:eYkH$%(E-Mail Removed)...
: >
: > What I'm trying to do is print from pc2 to pc1's printer, preferably
: > not via the router (ad-hoc, is that the correct term?)
: >
:
: For printing and file sharing probs this one. Worked well for me:
:
: http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article04-109
:

Thanks for the link, I'll have another go at it when I get home tonight

"Michael Dunn" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:eYkH$%(E-Mail Removed)...
:
: next step undecided -
: computer shop to buy a second printer, or
: hardware store to get a 16lb sledgehammer (payback!)
:

Issue resolved.

Trashed the book.
Bought a 2nd printer.
Set up 2 email accounts 'desktop' and 'notebook'

Now I can print from the notebook, and move files between the two pc's.