Windows has to have the device installed before it can install drivers. This can be somewhat problematic with some wireless devices, as there can be problems detecting the device. If windows has not detected your devices properly, then installing the drivers wont do you any good.
Some printers work if you just install the drivers. Many scanners and other devices will not.
As a matter of interest, some wireless printers work with just the drivers installed, as long as no errors occur which would require the printer to send something back to the machine. It is not strictly necessary for a printer to send anything back to the machine as long as it works properly. It simply receives a stream of data and does its thing. The machine itself does not care where the data goes, it just sends it. If a suitable working printer is in the vicinity, then it prints. This means that some printers will actually work with just the drivers installed, but you can go crazy trying to troubleshoot such incorrect setups when anything does go wrong. For correct and full operation two way communication is required.
A scanner is fundamentally different in this respect, it must have full two way communication before it can operate. Unless it is correctly installed it can not send any data to the machine.
Regards....Mike Connor
I think I'm learning something. Mike is what you are saying is that a scanner needs to call home to the computer and it can't wireless. The Send To option won't work.
Basically yes.
But the fact that some wireless printers work with just the drivers installed is really the result of sloppy programming. It should not be possible. Wireless devices of this nature should be forced to install full two way communication.
However, in cases where a printer works, and a scanner doesn't, ( Especially when they are in the same box!), it has been the case on a number of occasions that the devices were not correctly installed, but the printer worked as long as nothing went wrong with it, like a paper jam or "out of ink". It printed what it received, but could not send anything back to the machine. It just functioned as a receiver, ( like a radio receiver if you will, that does not need to send anything back to the broadcaster either, it just plays whatever it receives).
In order for a scanner to work at all, it has to send data back to the machine. Unless it is correctly installed it simply wont work.
Regards....Mike Connor
Well, finally got my USB cord.
It actually scans when the cord is plugged in, it's in device manager and even works with Windows Fax and Scan.
However, it still will not scan wirelessly without the cord. I do not know why - "Network Scan" reports no errors. This unit was advertised as having the ability to print and scan wirelessly .. since I have a laptop, that was one of the major selling points. It just won't.
Thinking of selling it now ... it's very disappointing. :[ Thank you for your help though, everyone.
GROAN!The same is true of HP scanners! I do have an Epson NX625 wireless which will scan (so far) without a problem, but my HP Officejet 6500 (USB connection) worked flawlessly under XP. Bought new Win7 machine 4 months ago, had to get whole new software pkg from HP to even install it on Win7. Worked fine until last week. Now the scanner locks up about 1/4 of the way through the scan.
I have read everything I can find on the 'net, several times. All the fixes apply to Vista and XP, and do nothing for the Win7 problem. And getting info from HP? well, the support world is full of sharks these days.
My local guru suggested try to run it under XP compatability mode but that doesn't work because the software is different now than it was with XP.
I have long been a fan of HP, but not right now. My next question is what is happening with the new HP units which say Windows 7 on them. My Epson NX625 is newer and a Win7 labeled unit; as I said, it works but I cannot tell the OP what is different in his set up.
BJ
I finally found a solution to this problem which suddenly appeared after some Win7 updates several months ago. This was with my Epson WF2540 all-in-one that stopped scanning (no communication message).
Solution:
1. Open Epson Scan Settings (in same folder as Epson Scanner)
2. You should see the Epson Scan Settings window listing all scanners. You probably will not see yours!
3. Make sure the Network button is activated (not the Local button)
4. Select Add.. A new 'Add' window will pop up. You can enter a unique name for the scanner if you wish.
5. Do not try to 'Retry' on the 'Search for addresses' option. Instead push the 'Enter address' button.
6. You will need to type in your Epson Printer's IP address in the field highlighted near the bottom. You should be able to get this from the printer's front panel.
7. After the IP address is entered select OK and the new scanner name will appear on the Epson Scan Settings
window. Go ahead and hit the 'Test' button which should come back with a positive message. If not you
may have entered the wrong IP address. Go back to #4.
8. Select OK at bottom and you should be good to go.
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