Vista Printer Compatibility Issues

[RueFang]

Hi computer whizzes...just a small question - my faithful Lexmark printer that has worked well on my PC for eons doesn't work on my HP Notebook. It installs properly, all the cords are firmly attached but it says it can't communicate. I'm assuming it's because the notebook is Vista os. Are there any work arounds or do I have to face the facts that I can't print from this computer?? Thanks.

[Guest Reimar]

Hi computer whizzes...just a small question - my faithful Lexmark printer that has worked well on my PC for eons doesn't work on my HP Notebook. It installs properly, all the cords are firmly attached but it says it can't communicate. I'm assuming it's because the notebook is Vista os. Are there any work arounds or do I have to face the facts that I can't print from this computer?? Thanks.

If you don't have a driver and can't download one from Lexmark, you can try to that the driver you have to Compatible mode Windows XP or 2000. If that didn't work: NO CHANCE! Unfortunate!!

Cheers.

[RueFang]

Hi Reimar I tried various compatibility fixes through the Vista wizard but no luck there. I am just looking at the Lexmark site now..thanks for your quick response!

[Guest Reimar]

Hi Reimar I tried various compatibility fixes through the Vista wizard but no luck there. I am just looking at the Lexmark site now..thanks for your quick response!

You have to try not to fix but within installation of the driver right click on the installation file and set to compatiblity mode XP or Win2000.

Cheers.

[zaphodbeeblebrox]

I had the same issue with an Epson printer. I was able to get the vista-driver off the epson website. If you can't get the new driver, you'll have to wait for vista SP2 (which could be an eternity). Microsoft was supposed to bundle new drivers with the recently released SP1, but SP1 was already so delayed, they dropped the driver update process.

[RueFang]

Ok, I got the driver from the Lexmark website, got the printer working (or so I thought) printing test pages, but when I go to print documents they just sit spooling. I cancelled all documents but I can't delete the last spooled item (says it's canceled but doesn't leave the queue) and I can't uninstall while there is a print job in line...so at a complete stand still trying to figure out how to uninstall/reinstall the driver again!

Thanks for your help.

[Thanh-BKK]

Hello

I use a Lexmark (cheap one from Tesco Lotus) on Vista, and even with the Vista driver (which has never been updated since March 2007) i need to use a trick to get it to print more than one thing, maybe this trick works for you as well.

First of all, of course you must set the printer as your "default printer", otherwise things like Word or the photo wizard won't print to it! To do so, open up the control panel, go to the "printers and scanners" option, right-click your printer and select "set as default printer". Now reboot the computer (maybe not necessary but doesn't do any bad too).

Now check if you can print from Word or photo gallery or whatever. Chances are you CAN.

Now, to print a SECOND document/picture/whatever, you need to turn the printer's power OFF and ON again! Only this clears the "print spool", at least with MY printer. Check it out - after you successfully printed one item (document, test page or whatever) the "printer" icon is still in the taskbar? If yes, turn the printer off - it will STILL be there. Turn the printer back on - and that icon will disappear.

NOW you can print again

I hope this helps in your case..... i can't remember my printer model (something 640) but there this procedure is necessary.

With best regards......

Thanh

[RueFang]

Thanks Thanh - I also have a 640. I managed to uninstall and reinstall the printer by restarting the print spooler in services, admin tools, but when I try to print anything from word - no luck. I followed your advice but still didn't help with printing, although it did clear the spooled item! Will keep plugging away but not looking good..why on earth can it print the test page though and not follow through with documents?!

[Richard-BKK]

Lets be fair, Windows Vista is not ready for the general public, only Microsoft geeks can work with it.....