Help! My computer won't recognize my printer!

I'm a college student, and I have tons of papers and files that I need to print. However, my computer won't recognize my printer. It is working and set up, I plugged it into my roommate's computer (a PC) to see if maybe the USB cable was bad; that wasn't the case.
I've tried to manually add the printer, but I don't have any Printer folder whatsoever in Utilities. If I go into System & Preferences, Printers & Fax, and try to click on the Set Up Printers button, nothing happens. I'm at the end of my ropes. Please help!
Also, the .pdf files for a lecture that I need to print aren't working as well; they worked just fine on my roommate's computer, but when I open them with Preview on my iBook, it is just blank. Does anyone know why this is happening?
Please help me, ASAP! Any advice/anything is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

need more info:
what kind of printer is it?
do have the drivers for it?
do have the printer setup utility?
what version of the OS do you have?
if you have OSX at least, then :
if you can access the utilities folder, you should be able to find the Printer setup Utility. If you do not have that , the n you need to archive and install :
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107120
if you do have the Printer Setup Utility, then
open that up, it will open a window called " Printer List"
click on " Add"
- that will open a window called Printer Browser
- if the printer is plugged in and powered on, you will see the printer name listed there.
- select it , then click on " add " in the bottom right
- if you do not see any printer listed in the printer browser, then try a different usb port and try again.
- if you are able to add the printer, then try a test print, it should work with a default driver.

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    What should I do with my iPod? Send it or keep it?
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    Strange error on iPod (probably death)
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=435160&start=0&tstart=0
    Sad Face on iPod for no apparent reason
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    Meeting the Sad iPod icon
    http://askpang.typepad.com/relevanthistory/2004/11/meeting_thesad.html#comment-10519524
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    iPod Photo: unhappy icon + warranty question
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    4th Gen iPod Users - are we all having the same problem?
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    Low Battery, and clicking sounds
    http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2237714#2237714
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