Old printer + Windows 7 = poop

[imported_Jid]

Ok, this isn't a do or die situation for me but I thought I'd ask since it might be an easy answer for someone else on here. I've got an old desktop upstairs running XP hooked up to an HP Laserjet 1000 printer, I've got a laptop running Win7 on the same network. Trouble is, HP are being dicks and aren't releasing Win7 drivers for the printer, instead they recommend to "upgrade" which is stupid since it's a printer and it's got many years of usefull life left in it.

Can I use the virtual XP mode in any way to resolve this, or am I relegated to running up and down the stairs with a USB stick to print from now on?

 

[SolMiester]

Just try one of the generic HP printer drivers like HPLJ4 or something, should be fine!

 

[imported_Jid]

wow, HP isn't offering drivers for Win7 because they are supposed to be available in Windows or through live update. Tried some universal HP x64 print drivers from google but none of them are working. Oh well.

Thanks for trying to help, unfortunately HP are such jerkoffs

 

[theevilsharpie]

I was going to tell you to use the Vista 64-bit drivers, but it looks like they haven't released those or XP 64-bit drivers.

So it looks like if you want to print from that printer, you'll need to do so from 32-bit Windows 7.

It sucks that HP doesn't support your printer anymore, but then again, it's an 8-year-old low-end printer that was discontinued years ago.

 

[Nothinman]

HP LJ printers generally speak PostScript so virtually any PS driver should work fine.

 

[imported_Jid]

HP LJ printers generally speak PostScript so virtually any PS driver should work fine.

Ok, I'll give it another go tomorrow.. I tried a bunch of different drivers but Win7 always gave me some kind of error like "can't connect" or "can't find drivers".

I know it's an old printer but it's not like I need the newest greatest machine to print word documents you know?

Hopefully I get lucky with this, if not I guess I'll be getting some exercise

 

[VinDSL]

LoL! I hear ya...

I'm still running a HP Deskjet 990cxi printer. It's got a duplexer (automatically prints on both sides of the page), and the ink carts are cheap (online).

I plugged it into my Ubu 9.10 box the other day, using a USB cable, and Ubuntu automatically found my 990cxi and installed it (perfectly configured) without any intervention on my part. Linux has a few surprises up it's sleeve...

Anyway, you can always attach your HP to a Linux box, and use it for a print server, if nothing else...

Who knows, you might like it more than 7, you know?

 

[theevilsharpie]

HP LJ printers generally speak PostScript so virtually any PS driver should work fine.

This only applies to mid-range and high-end printers with built-in print processors. Low-end host-based printers use a proprietary page description language.

 

[Nothinman]

Anyway, you can always attach your HP to a Linux box, and use it for a print server, if nothing else...

He'll still need a driver to be installed on Win7.

This only applies to mid-range and high-end printers with built-in print processors. Low-end host-based printers use a proprietary page description language.

If he has one of those printers that doesn't speak PS or PCL then yea, it's time to buy a printer that speaks a standard language.

 

[imported_Jid]

He'll still need a driver to be installed on Win7.



If he has one of those printers that doesn't speak PS or PCL then yea, it's time to buy a printer that speaks a standard language.

lol, I tried some universal PS and PCL5/6 drivers and nothing worked. I was hoping it is just because I'm so green with Win7 but my printer is old and it is low end so it's more likely that it's crap, I got it because the toner lasts really long and it's cheap since I get extra toner from where I used to work.

Oh well, I'll just use it the way it is for now.. later I'll need to get a better printer anyway.

Thanks for the info guys

 

[EndGame]

LoL! I hear ya...

I'm still running a HP Deskjet 990cxi printer. It's got a duplexer (automatically prints on both sides of the page), and the ink carts are cheap (online).

I plugged it into my Ubu 9.10 box the other day, using a USB cable, and Ubuntu automatically found my 990cxi and installed it (perfectly configured) without any intervention on my part. Linux has a few surprises up it's sleeve...

Anyway, you can always attach your HP to a Linux box, and use it for a print server, if nothing else...

Who knows, you might like it more than 7, you know?

Wow......have the exact same printer on my kids system and Win 7 found it and it's worked without a hitch!