[focus]

I've got a wired network consisting of an XP PC and Vista Laptop. The printer
is plugged in to the PC but won't print from the laptop. I wondered if it was possibly because the printer was bought pre- vista.

[jas]

Is the printer shared on the network and if so have you allowed File and Print Sharing ?. You may also need vista drivers for the laptop and the machine with the printer attached will have to be turned on to access the printer. Networking is one of those Windows Dark Arts and can be a pain in the arse at times.

Can you browse your shared drives via the network ?

[Silent Bob]

Nah, I've got a wired printer into a Vista desktop and can print from the XP desktop remotely - weirdly only from my account.

You can set up the sharing/printing through Windows.