Cannot find wireless printer on network

Oh yea...  Once the above topics are addressed, the only thing left is to make sure that your printer is shared on the computer that it's connected to.

Sounds like this is not the primary issue though, since you mentioned that nothing is finding anything.  Sounds more like a workgroup setting/Internet Security issue.  

Thanks, I dont have an option on the printer for joining it to a workgroup it just asks for the security key, the security I'm using is AVG 8.0 with the vista firewall enabled and windows defender, nothing has come up with a block or registry change question.
My main problem is that the printer is not detected on the network, wirelessly?
I did try sharing the printer and that did'nt work either so for now I've uninstalled it and am going to try from scratch.
The setup you mentioned is what I use for setting up a workgroup with multiple pc's but wireless printers have to be SEEN by the other wireless equipment, the laptop can detect the printer as a print server on the 'connect to' menu, but the printer is not connecting through the router.
I have a feeling its a router configuration setting as there was a problem connecting his laptop as well, which I resolved by changing one or two configuration settings in the router, but I can't seem to pin down the setting for the printer.
Is there anything else you can think of?

You don't join the printer to the workgroup - just the computer that the printer is connected to.

I'm almost certain that your problem is related to having too many firewalls playing together.  AVG 8, Vista Firewall, AND Windows Defender?  Yea, sounds like a recipe for frustration to me.

I'd start by disabling (at least temporarily) Windows Defender.

If that doesn't help, re-enable Defender and disable Windows Firewall.  Lastly, disable the AVG antivirus, leaving just the Vista Firewall on.  

I'd be willing to bet that one or more of these applications is set to not allow discovery of your computer from the workgroup...

You have to connect the printer using the USB cable to a computer on which you have installed the printer's setup software, and then, while the printer is connected by the USB cable, use its setup software to tell the printer what your network's SSID is, and the type of security you're using (WEP, WPA, etc.) and the security key.  Save the changes, and then disconnect the USB.  Until your network light on the printer turns green, you haven't done that.  Only AFTER you've done that and the printer is communicating with your network (and the network light on the printer is green) would you set up printer sharing, etc.

In my home setup, all 5 of my computers are running TrendMicro IS.  When my sister visits with her laptop (Symantec Internet Security), she has to lower the settings on her laptop and I have to scan for her machine using one of my other computers and specify to "trust" her device.  If not, she cannot see my other computers, or access shared printers/shared folders, etc...

I had AVG Free set up for my Dad a while ago.  I remember that there were some access control settings in the software.  You should check the settings carefully for each of the security progs that you have installed.  I'm certain that your Internet Security software(s) are fighting with each other.

Akahan, you're right, BUT from what I understand, at this point, nothing is seeing anything on his workgroup.  That smells like a bigger issue than just the printer sharing setup.  That's the easiest part of the whole thing to make work.

I don't see him saying anywhere that nothing is seeing anything on his workgroup.  The FiRST step is to make sure the printer and the router are communicating with one another (getting a "green light") on the printer, and to do that he needs to configure the printer with the right SSID and security settings using the USB connection.  Until the printer and the router can communicate, Workgroups, etc., don't matter.

My apology Akahan.  You are right...  I missed "wireless printer"...  Sorry about that.  

I have connected the printer using the USB as normal, the Lexmark does'nt ask for the type of security just the security key, after the key is entered it runs the install/communication software and always says it can't connect. I might do as you suggested and disable one or two security functions but to be honest I've run alot of this type of software together with no compatibility problems before.
Wireless printers do seem to be awkward to install and have little in the way of manual configuration options to help.
I might try to remove the WEP off the router just to test if that will allow it to communicate with no security.
The handbook says it will work with ,WEP,WPA or WPA-PSK, but as I said there is no option to pick which one you are using on the printer setup menus.
Also the network sharing windows normally shows the router as an icon but that is missing, I just wondered if its a problem with new wireless 'n' routers?

Well Comtech2000, I just want to apologize for misunderstanding and going off in the wrong direction with this at the beginning.  I've not configured a wireless printer before, I I'll follow this question and also be interested in knowing what the solution is when someone cracks it.   :-)

Have you told the printer what your router's/wireless network's  SSID is?

It automatically detects the SSID and when I checked the wireless configuration on the printer it shows the correct SSID but no IP, subnet mask or anything, you can enable or disable DHCP on the printer but it defaults to enabled so it should automatically receive an address from the router.
The printer is ONLY getting the SSID from the router and nothing else and there is no way to manually configure it, you have to run the program from disk every time, its pretty poor really, god only knows how a normal user would go on if its so hard to setup.
Do you think its a security issue, as in, its not automatically using the correct one, or do you think the built in print server is faulty?

The notion that it automatically detects the SSID and that this is not configurable  is baffling to me; suppose the printer was being used in an environment with multiple routers with different SSID's, how would it know which one to choose?

But let's go on the assumption that it IS in fact automatically configuring the SSID -- I would suggest turning off wireless security on the router temporarily, and see if you can get the printer and the router to connect without security (that is, at least showing the green light on the router).  If you can, then you know the problem is mismatched security settings.  Your symptoms are consistent with mismatched security settings, in that if there are mismatched security settings, the printer WOULD be able to identify the SSID of packets in the air, but would not be able to "associate" (get an IP address, or otherwise make use of DHCP) with the router.

Thats what I think too, so as I've been saying from the beginning could it be the router configuration thats causing the problem and if so, there are so many settings maybe I need to take it up with belkin technical support to clarify if it is a router setup issue.
I know it sounds odd but that is what the setup is like on the printer, I suppose its to make it more user friendly not needing the SSID etc.
Do you know of any particular router settings on the wireless side that may prevent connectivity like this?
MAC filtering is not enabled on the router, but the printer does come with the MAC code on a sticker on the back and it is supposed to appear on the PORTS tab of the printers properties menu so you can select it, but does NOT show up, so you cannot choose the printer to connect wirelessly through ports either.
I am sure its being blocked somewhere but can't identify what's doing it, any other ideas?

Perhaps you're having a DHCP problem.  Have you tried setting the printer's ip address, subnet mask, and default gateway manually?

I have no way of accessing it manually, the on screen printer LCD shows you the wireless configuration but you cannot manually configure it, I've already tried.
As I said it does have a wireless printer utility in program files but it wont run, maybe another vista glitch, I expect you use the wireless software to possibly configure the wireless settings if there's a problem, maybe Lexmark do the wireless utility for vista as a download, that may help, I'll have a look on their site.
Might be able to configure the printer on an XP laptop and then connect the vista laptop, what do you think?

OK well looks like I'm not much further on and lexmark are not much use, thanks for the help anyway will just have to try to work it out on the job, thanks again.

comtech, have you found a solution? I have exactly the same problem with Lexmark x3580. The only thing I have not tried is disable all security on the router.