unable to print on my network

You said, "and was able to install XP pro from my boys computer that was received from a home school company that they use".

CNET has a policy, strictly enforced, of not providing help where a "not-genuine" version of Windows XP is being used. This is because copying an Operating System for use on another computer, or using a genuine version of XP that is already in use elsewhere is illegal.

Your statement concerns me. Although you go on to say that this company had sent you an OEM version of XP I am not clear what their intention was. Was that original OEM provided for your use on your computer, or was it provided for your boys' computer?

You need to be crystal clear on this.

Mark

I'm not able to visualize the full network. You refer to a "main" computer. Is this some sort of server or does it just host a shared printer? In any event, users connecting to it across the network will need to be authenticated. It might be that, on the main computer, the sharing is restricted to defined users. As such, the PC you are working with cannot just have your username of choice and access such a printer. Your username would need to be defined on the PC hosting the printer and permission given. You didn't mention if you were able to access other shares on the network but just not able to print. having access to the network first is imperative. I would also add that a better way to share a printer on a network is to have one that's not dependent on another to host it. If you can, you might consider adding print server hardware. This isn't difficult but not all such are compatible with all printers. A printer with built in networking is best. It does seem to me that if it was working before the software reload and not afterwards, some step was missing in configuring the printer. As Mark suggests, you need to make sure all is legit or you will probably have bigger problems than just the printer somewhere down the road. The software disks aren't the problem as long as you had and used the original product ID code with the re installation.

Since you find logging on to a computer to be an annoyance, you might want to consider using the autologon feature from MS's TweakUI. It's possible to not require a password but, if the rest of the network is configured to require such, you won't be welcome to join it.

Where are the drivers for the printer?

I use a print server and had to install the print drivers on each laptop.

If using a desktop as the main computer and networking, then this computer will need the drivers.


Rick