PC hardware: Printer installed/not installed @ same time

Printer installed/not installed @ same time

Hi, I'm running xp pro, on a dell desktop. My son downloaded limewire on my pc, after his crashed because of limewire. Both pc's developed the same problem. With mine, my printer quit working, when I told it to print it would just sit there. I uninstalled limewire, deleted everything he downloaded, ran a virus scan, then uninstalled the printer, and tried to reinstall. At this point, the icon for the printer was still in the taskbar, even though the file was not in the "program files", every time I reboot, it says "found new hardware-printer". But when I try to install the installation program ends up "not responding". If I try to install through the "add hardware" in the control panel, it says the printer is already installed. I have went through the registry and manually deleted all references to the printer, except two that will not delete. With the other pc, I eventually had to wipe and reload, because the problem there was in the video card, and ethernet card. I don't want to have to do that with mine, as I have too much stuff that would have to be reloaded. Any help would be appreciated.