Tech: Help - trying to install printer

Subject: RE: Tech: Help - trying to install printer
From: Mr Red
Date: 16 Mar 14 - 07:10 AM

I think the methodology of the .bat file was to copy a hidden copy (working) of the DLL to the DLL that was not doing the business. I assume the DLL contained literals that got modified in some way, closing down Win7 in a certain order, or with pending jobs, the printer switched off or something of that ilk.

Subject: RE: Tech: Help - trying to install printer
From: Mr Red
Date: 16 Mar 14 - 07:06 AM

we had no end of problems with Win7 & a HP LaserJet (1240 I think).
In the end our tame network Guru made a .bat file that re-instated the driver, but it had to be "right Click" run as administrator type thingy to have any effect.

Every so often the driver would look for all the world as if there and not functioning. I don't understand the reasons, or have access to the .bat file now. But I am positive it is the combination of Win7 and HP that causes the problem. Epson seem to have it sorted in my experience.

Subject: RE: Tech: Help - trying to install printer
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 15 Mar 14 - 05:40 PM

Help with Windows 7 Drivers for HP Printers has several categories of assistance, with links.

One of the links is to Printers Supported in Windows 7. On this page, Deskjet and Inkjet printers that are supported are simply listed, but for LaserJet printers there is a link to a separate page:

Products Supported in Windows 7. Links at the top of this page are local links to locations on the same page, and include jumps to HP Laserjet printers, HP Color Laserjet printers, HP Laserjet Multifunction Printers. There is also a section on the kinds of drivers for the different ways the printers can be connected.

So far as I can find onthis last page, the HP 1320 printer is NOT SUPPORTED with a driver for Windows 7. IFF this printer can be used with Win7, you most likely will need to use one of the driver types briefly described near the bottom of thelast page above:

Descriptions of Windows 7 drivers

The following sections describe the drivers available for Windows 7.

Full solution CD (not likely)
This installation provides full product functionality and includes valuable software to help you get the most out of your product.

Full solution driver (not likely)
This driver provides full product functionality and does not require additional HP software.

Host Based driver (remotely possible?)
This driver uses your computer's resources to process print jobs, taking advantage of the computer's memory and processing power.

Host Based Plug and Play driver (maybe??)
This driver provides EZInstall to assist with installation for direct USB connections and provides basic printing functionality. It uses your computer's resources to process print jobs, taking advantage of the computer's memory and processing power.

In-OS driver (most likely if anything is going to work)
A full feature software and driver package for Windows 7 is not available for your product. However, the Windows 7 operating system installed on your computer contains a basic driver solution for your product. With the basic driver, some of the advanced product features are not available. You can print from a software program, and import and view images on a memory card, if your product has a memory card slot. With this basic driver, the buttons on the product do not function and some of the advanced product features are not available.

Universal Print Driver (possible, maybe, but intended for networked printers of mixed types and may require complex setup)
This driver works with a broad range of networked and direct-connected HP products, and is designed to simplify the task of managing multiple devices with the use of a single driver.

A separate look at the product specification for the HP LaserJet 1320 Printer series shows (Table on page 2 at "Interface and connectivity")

The "basic" HP 1320 with USB (serial port) and IEEE parallel port.

The HP 1320n/tn with USB or Ethernet (RJ-45) connection

The HP 1320nw with USB, RJ-45 Ethernet, and 802.11 b/g wireless connectivity

For full function, you would want to use the driver for the connection type you use, but since there isn't a full function Win7 driver for this printer it probably doesn't matter which might give you basic functionality.

This was an excellent home-office printer once upon a time. The "PostScript Emulation" is a little short of being full "PostScript Capable" but the difference probably wouldn't have mattered to anyone not working in commercial publishing. For its day, it was fast, but so far as Win7 is concerned you likely can just play taps and pull down the window shades so the neighbors won't see what you do (with it or otherwise) at night. Win7 does offer a "Run as WinXP" mode that might let you use a WinXP driver, but I haven't found that a convenient way of salvaging legacy stuff. YMMV.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Help - trying to install printer
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 15 Mar 14 - 08:30 AM

The last message, 15 Mar 14 - 08:29 AM, was from me.

Subject: RE: Tech: Help - trying to install printer
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Mar 14 - 08:29 AM

I have been ploughing though web pages trying to find a working driver.

This high-end technology is termed "plough and pray". Still, I would not give up prematurely; Bert mentions the financial drawback himself. You may consider using an older PC for printing.

Subject: RE: Tech: Help - trying to install printer
From: Bert
Date: 15 Mar 14 - 07:38 AM

Generally speaking it is better to just buy a new printer. It is not worth wasting much time on them. If you spend more than and hour or two trying to fix one you are already up to the price of a new one. They sell them cheaply to get you to buy their high priced ink.

Subject: RE: Tech: Help - trying to install printer
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 15 Mar 14 - 01:23 AM

Signing up for an HP account was always pretty much automatic for me, since registering the purchase for warranty purposes automatically gave me an account.

Of about 8 HP printers I've had, all but 2 failed within warranty, and ALL OF THE REPLACEMENTS THEY FURNISHED failed shortly after the original warranty expired. (ALL HP warranty replacements are with rebuilt machines, and are warranted only for what's left of the original purchased machine warranty.)¹

At Stilly's "Search on printer drivers" link, I believe that the models ending with an "n" are "network" capable, with the expectation you'll use them on an Ethernet (10BaseT) Local Network. For "home users"this usually means a "Windows Workgroup." I don't know whether the newer "wireless" kind use the same or some other indicator. Ones without a distinctive "last letter" generally were USB connected.

Since all the printer functions are supposed to be the same for any kind of connection, you usually can get by with using any driver for any one using the base model with any of them, although I can't assure that the cross-compatibility is 100%.

If you previously used the printer with another OS, HP may offer a "firmware update" in addition to a driver when you move it to Win7. This update shouldn't affect using it with the older OS, although again HP doesn't say compatibility isn't affected. IFF such a firmware update is there, instructions will make installation simple enough.

(For multipurpose machines, and especially ones with wireless capability, it has been found that malware can "take over" the printer and FAX etc, so "security updates," also usually as firmware patches, may also appear.)

In Win7, USB connected printers, especially with multipurpose features like FAX and ScamScan and/or memory card reader slots, sometimes are found as "devices" but not recognized immediately as printers. Once connected as a "device" the system will usually find them as a printer using the Win7 Add Printer utility, although again HP doesn't seem to comment on this. (Not really unique to HP, since most other makers are equally vague.)

As an immediate work-around, you probably can use any LaserJet 1320 driver, without worrying about the "submodel" detail, although there may be some loss of features if your machine has some unusually cute capabilities.

¹ One HP large sheet (Super B) inkjet printer (>$400 model) that failed under warranty was replaced by a refurbished unit that was DOB (dead out of box) and wouldn't turn on. The replacement for the first replacement turned on, but couldn't be turned off because the power switch was broken. The replacement for the replacement for the original replacement for the dead one was okay, but failed about 3 weeks after I finally got it, precisely one week after the warranty went over the hill.

Like most printer makers, HP seldom issues new drivers for old printers when a new OS version appears. They just make a new printer for the new OS. Win7 is better than other recent new versions at running "legacy" stuff with old drivers, but is still a little less than perfect.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Help - trying to install printer
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 09:35 PM

I have an HP 1320, it is a standard printer, easy to install, a real workhorse. But it isn't wireless. You need to use a cable to print with it. (It sounds like you are using a cable).

Search on printer drivers for five different LaserJet 1320 models.

HP LaserJet 1320.

You may need to sign up with an HP account just to be able to use the site easier.

SRS

Subject: RE: Tech: Help - trying to install printer
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 08:28 PM

Not the same printer, but I too experienced problems adding my old-but-good HP printer LJ1010 to a then newish Vista setup. This HP forum was a big help, post 7 was the one for me. Blickie, the setup died before the printer did so..............

I used it again on a newer system where the specified other HP printer (per forum) didn't appear, I just picked a similar number, and it worked. My very tentative conclusion is that HP don't actually change their drivers that much, you just need to spoof them a bit.

Doubtless JiK will have an explanation, and probably a much more elegant remedy, (he's truly amazing in my book)
but something on those lines may well do the job.

Subject: RE: Tech: Help - trying to install printer
From: gnu
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 01:17 PM

HP can be tough to navigate the first few times. M$ is frustrating. Adobe is %^*%$#$^. But, I get upset when I see the dreaded knowledge forums. I try the forum for a short while and, if it doesn't yield reasonable or promising results, I ask Mr(s). Google. Of course, there is always Mudcat... amazing resource for tech probles, amongst other things. >;-)

PS Screw Sony.

Subject: RE: Tech: Help - trying to install printer
From: Elektra
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 11:58 AM

You don't have to enter the serial number. Just scroll down and select the appropriate version of Windows 7 from the Driver Page. ;-)


*Elektra*

Subject: Tech: Help - trying to install printer
From: GUEST,SPB Cooperator At Work
Date: 14 Mar 14 - 11:38 AM

Can anyone help!!

I have an HP Laserjet 1320 printer I have had for year - never had any problems with it, and economic to use.

I have just spent half the day trying to plug it in to my laptop - windows 7. It is not listed in the add printer list, and I have been ploughing though web pages trying to find a working driver. The HP website is useless - it asks for a serial number, and when I type in the number on the label at the back it does not recognise it.

Other pages give me drivers to download but my windows 7 does want to list the printer.

Is there someone out there who can give a tech dummy like myself step by step instructions of how to get my laptop to print!

many thanks in advance