Win-7U -- Found First Real Annoyance.

[ekpolk]

Well, I'm still very happy with Win-7U, but I have found a problem I can't solve. I have two old, but still very functional, HP Deskjet inkjet printers. The oldest is an HP Deskjet 3420, a small, but high-quality unit that on our other computers, just keeps chugging along.

The problem, unfortunately, is that Win-7 does not seem to want to recognize (or provide) a driver for the 3420. I've tried the straight plug-in technique, with no results. I've tried to install from the very old CD (the printer dates back to at least 2002...). Finally, I went to the HP site, and they indicate that there is no driver available for Win-7U, 64 bit. The "alternate" driver is that for the Deskjet 3600 series, but I can't get that to load from any source.

Any suggestions? I hate the idea of giving up on a perfectly good, if old, printer. And besides, I still have a box of full ink cartridges...

 

[TXMXTruck]

Have you tried using the MS Vista driver for an HP Deskjet 3600 series printer? It should work.

I agree that HP is a pain with their attempt at forced obsolescence. Also, they really drag their heals when it comes for publishing new drivers for operating systems they intend to support with a certain printer.

Keep digging as that printer is not that old and there has to be a solution. I've had old PSC2000/2100 series printers running with newer Deskjet 4300 drivers when no where on the HP website did it say they would work.

 

[ekpolk]

Thanks for the info. My version of Win-7 is the 64-bit. You think I should use the Vista 64-bit driver?

 

[Gradient]

Hve you tried this?

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: Gradient
Hve you tried this?


Thanks, but I have. When I go to Windows update, and run it, it informs me that my version of Win-7U has all available drivers, already loaded, and says therefore no updates available. Yet my installation of Win-7 seems to show no evidence of the existence of this driver (the alternate DJ3600 series driver). Grrrrrrrrr.

 

[Gradient]

Originally Posted By: ekpolk
The oldest is an HP Deskjet 3420, a small, but high-quality unit that on our other computers, just keeps chugging along.

Maybe you can set it up as a shared printer from one of the computers it is working on till you use up your ink?

 

[Mamala Bay]

I've spoken to computer students who are aiming towards Cisco and from what I've gathered the Win-7 32 bit is more diver friendly and stable over the 64 bit especially when converting from Windows XP drivers. They've experience both the 32 and 64 bit. They have some bitter feelings on Win-7 64 bit, it's just not ready.

Just saying what they told me. They stick with the 32bit, they deal with servers and high end things.

 

[MrHorspwer]

Originally Posted By: Mamala Bay
I've spoken to computer students who are aiming towards Cisco and from what I've gathered the Win-7 32 bit is more diver friendly and stable over the 64 bit especially when converting from Windows XP drivers. They've experience both the 32 and 64 bit. They have some bitter feelings on Win-7 64 bit, it's just not ready.


That's [censored]. More than likely, just students regurgitating whatever excuse Cisco has rolled down the hill.

Even at the consumer level, Cisco has provided very poor Win 7 support, in both 32 and 64-bit, to the Linksys brand. This is an OS that has a consumer adoption rate far exceeding the last OS (which, BTW, also took Cisco FOREVER to start supporting). When I can't used my expensive Linksys wireless PCI adapter, a pretty common and simple device when it comes to drivers, because there is no driver support, something is wrong. This is greatly highlighted when a disposable $15 TrendNet USB wireless adapter is immediatly recognized and drivers are directly supported from Microsoft.

At this point, a lack of driver support isn't Microsoft's fault. Win 7 is close enough to Vista in terms of driver development that, in many cases, they will work in place of one another. 5 months after a very successful OS launch, any missing drivers are at the choice of the device manufacturer. I can understand the HP situation and why they wouldn't want to continue support of an 8 year old printer.

Cisco can say what they will, but when their competitors don't seem to have any problems supporting the latest OS, their sentiments ring hollow. They're only going to be able to continue milking the XP cow for so long...

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Have you tried the HP site, since it's an HP printer? I don't like HP printers for that very reason-they don't do a good job keeping drivers updated for older printers on newer operating systems, especially consumer products.

Quote:
I've spoken to computer students who are aiming towards Cisco and from what I've gathered the Win-7 32 bit is more diver friendly and stable over the 64 bit especially when converting from Windows XP drivers. They've experience both the 32 and 64 bit. They have some bitter feelings on Win-7 64 bit, it's just not ready.

Just saying what they told me. They stick with the 32bit, they deal with servers and high end things.


Your first mistake is that you are speaking with students. 64 bit is pretty common in the "real" world.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Up until last month, I held any and ALL HP printer software in utter disdain. HP's Universal Print Driver (UPD) seems to actually work and doesn't BSOD our servers.

Link to HP's download site for the UPD

Funny---as I write this, a guy from Microsoft is giving a keynote address, he just said "we can't tell HP not to do that, but we're working on it" "That" = don't provide consumers with print drivers for older hardware then tell them to buy a new printer instead.

All that being said, I was able to force Vista drivers that say "operating system not supported" on a Win7 machine, 32 and 64 bit.

 

[saaber1]

I think the 64 bit is an insurmountable problem from what I understand. You may be able to find third party software that can make it work but it's doubtful. I tried vuescan and others to get my scanner component of my multifunction to work with win 7 64 bit and no luck.

Also If you buy a multifunction printer it may be worth checking to see if all functions support 64 bit. My printer will print from 64 bit but will not scan.

 

[SrDriver]

I have been running 64 bit versions of Windows for years and ran the 64 Bit Beta and pre-release version of Windows 7 without issue as far drivers.

Same goes for Linux have ran the 64 bit versions for a long time too. There were some cases where I had to install 32 bit versions of packages, etc.

Big problem is that the company wants you to spend some money for new hardware.

This happened with some printers back when XP came into being.

Considering the price of printers, it is ofter cheaper just to junk the printer than by the cartridges for it.

If I am not badly mistaken, both Epson and Canon have their print heads in the printer and others have them in the cartridges. That is why ink jet cartridges are cheaper for Epson and Canon usually.

I have a older Epson printer and a newer Samsung Color Laser and have had no problems with either using Linux or Windows 64 bit version. Only issue with the Samsung in Linux is I had to tell it to use color.

 

[oldmaninsc]

Originally Posted By: SrDriver

Big problem is that the company wants you to spend some money for new hardware.

This happened with some printers back when XP came into being.

Considering the price of printers, it is ofter cheaper just to junk the printer than by the cartridges for it.



Sad but true. I guess you could always sell the print cartridges on ebay. Or donate them to a school or charity that could use them. Not a very good solution but . . .

 

[Buffman]

I would imagine you could use a comparable model driver or try the universal one.

My main gripe with my windows 7 64 bit system is this issue I'm having with IE and Adobe Flash player (from what I've researched). Complete lock up, and have to do a hard reset to get it to come back up. I've read there's not a whole lot that's been done so far about it, but it's a PITA. I'm half tempted to just reinstall the OS with the 32bit system and go from there. Or dual boot with the 32bit until a solution is found. I ran beta and RC 32 bit w7 for forever and it was rock solid..

 

[Colt45ws]

Thats strange. I have not noticed any problem with Flash in IE. Is it any flash or random?

 

[SrDriver]

You should have both the 32 bit and 64 bit versions of IE installed when running the 64 bit version of Windows 7.

Use the 32 bit version of IE and you should be fine.

You can also use Firefox, Google Chrome, or Opera as a web browser which will work fine with Windows 7 64 bit version.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Originally Posted By: SrDriver
You should have both the 32 bit and 64 bit versions of IE installed when running the 64 bit version of Windows 7.

Use the 32 bit version of IE and you should be fine.

You can also use Firefox, Google Chrome, or Opera as a web browser which will work fine with Windows 7 64 bit version.


+1 Exactly.

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: ToyotaNSaturn
. . .
All that being said, I was able to force Vista drivers that say "operating system not supported" on a Win7 machine, 32 and 64 bit.


If you don't mind, how did you do this?

Yes, it's an old, relatively cheap printer, but ironically, it's one of the best ink jets I've ever used, and I'd really like to keep it viable (by that, I mean usable on ALL our computers, even those hobbling along on 64-bit Win-7...

)

 

[Cutehumor]

Upgrades can't be all bad. When my in laws upgraded to a new pc with windows vista, I got a fairly new HP all in one scanner/printer for free. all because they couldn't get the drivers to work for the printer.

 

[Buffman]

Originally Posted By: Onmo'Eegusee
Thats strange. I have not noticed any problem with Flash in IE. Is it any flash or random?


It's very random. I've since uninstalled (with tool) adobe flash, and resintalled it, and it seems better.


Originally Posted By: SrDriver
You should have both the 32 bit and 64 bit versions of IE installed when running the 64 bit version of Windows 7.

Use the 32 bit version of IE and you should be fine.

You can also use Firefox, Google Chrome, or Opera as a web browser which will work fine with Windows 7 64 bit version.


By Default it runs the 32bit IE, and that's what's causing the issues. I could probably easily pin the 64 bit version to the taskbar (so I remember to use it), and can see if the problem persists in that.

Firefox is now faster opening, but I still prefer IE