CS5 hangs up when I try to print.

Question

I have been using CS5 for some time now.  Recently I have had problems with CS5 haning up sometimes for 4 -5 min or more at a time when trying to print.  It hangs up when I first hit the print button, then again once the dialogue box opens and I hit print preferences, again once I finally hit print.  All in all it can take me 15 minutes or more to start printing a photo after I first hit print. 
I am using a Dell Studio XPS with a 3.07 GHz Intel core i7CPU with 12 GB Ram operating Windows 7 64 bit.  The printer is an Epson 7900.  I didn't have this problem 2 weeks ago.  The only addition to this computer since the problem started is a Drobo for backup of my images. 
I have tried resetting my preferences without success.  I am frustrated beyond belief.

Answer 1

It hangs up when I first hit the print button, then again once the dialogue box opens and I hit print preferences, again once I finally hit print
In other words it hangs every time Photoshop tries to communicate with your printer driver.
Is the printer connected and on?  If not, the driver may take a while trying to talk to the printer.
But your delays are due to the printer driver doing something and not returning control to Photoshop.