what's wrong with my printer?

That is odd that it doesn't recognize the USB for your printer, though Vista does have a lot of "issues", that's why most companies never upgraded to it from XP, they could never get it to work reliably and consistently. You might try a different USB port and see if it works any better.

Vista has the drivers for many printers built-in to the operating system, that's why yours loaded when you simply plugged it in. As far as removing it and trying again, it's worth a shot, but may not make any difference. To delete the printer, disconnect your printer first, then you simply go to the Printers section in Control Panel from the Start icon button in the lower left corner of your main screen, find your printer, right click on it and delete it. Then restart your computer and reconnect your printer.

As for converting to Windows 7, you'd need to purchase an Upgrade package from a retailer somewhere and run it on your computer to upgrade it.

Best of luck.

It is not Vista's fault all the time. Most people do not know how to run and tweak Vista. I use Vista and have no problems with it. Its fast and easy to work with. Yes, I might also upgrade to Windows 7, but not for the fact that Vista is a bad OS, Windows 7 is just a glorified version of Vista with the bugs that a good computer person can do a work around. Most people like the one answer you got condeming Vista, you must forgive him for he knows not what he is saying.

That is the problem with using two identical Printers on a network. Try switching the printers around that will fix it. but it is doing that because the printer is printing to what ever printer is set to default printer try switch the right printer you want to default

It windows vista windows vista has TONS of errors and driver issues.

Thats you main issues the OS its self I recommend into upgrading to windows 7 its what windows vista should have been

there's definitely a bug. try uninstalling and then reinstalling your printer driver.