I am trying to share printers over a network. One is Windows XP, the other Vista. The XP machine has the printers attached.
The Vista machine can see the printers, but shows an error when I try to install. I have downloaded and installed the driver from the manufacturer site and installed on Vista machine. I have tried installing as virtual USB and directing by computername/printername.
If I install directly to Vista machine, printer works.
Any help appreciated.

Have the printer hooked to the xp machine
On the vista machine go to Network and Sharing
First thing, make sure your Vista machine is "Private Network" not "Public Network"
Change if nec. Scroll down to where you have "sharing and Discovery" make sure everything is "ON" not "OFF" except Password protected sharing unless you use that
Go to control panel and select printers, right click on any printer that shows up and choose "delete" and say OK
Now, On tahe blue bar under file, tools, etc... Click "Add Printer"
Choose Add a network, wireless or Bluetooth printer
It will search for avail printers on your network. It should show the one on your XP machine
Hightlight and click next, follow the on screen steps and your pinter should be installed

Click print test page

I did exactly what you said and still got an error message... Any other thoughts appreciated.

What error message? Try to provide as much info as you can when something comes up or happens

Error 0x00000046a when I try to install.

Thanks again...

The error
Message indicates a permission issue

Did you share the printer on your XP machin?

In control panel go to printers and right click on the printer and share it
Post back with update

What you need to do is go through the install, but choosing the LOCAL printer option. When prompted to select a port choose to add a new TCP/IP port. Set that port to the IP address of the PC the printer is connected to. Then proceed with the install.

Printer is shared on XP machine and confirmed same workgroup.
I tried installing by IP -- no go.
I can see the printer listed as network printer, just can't install on Vista machine.

I have Vista and XP also, I sure love my XP.

And in your firewall, do you have "file and printer sharing" checked I the exceptions list??

Firewall has permission for file and print sharing.