Windows 7: Windows 7 with a HP 5550 printer

Hi all, I wish I had never moved to Windows 7 for it seems to want to total control of the printer, when it says go to a test print check all I get is the words PRINT SAMPLE no red and yellow leaves to test, plus everything that I print is only a third size on a A4 sheet of paper, I cannot seem to size things myself.
Do you think a NEW printer is the answer ?

Seems like Windows 7 is loading his own printer drivers, that are very generic, useful for emergencies and little more. It's remarkable that they work at all on so much different devices.
Did you install the right drivers?

From HP's site they say there are 5 different kinds of HP5550. please locate the manual or something to identify your printer, then try going here, select the printer you have and then on "microsoft windows 7 64 bit", then download and install the latest Universal Printer Driver.

Another thing that may help is the latest HP Print View software, from that same page, which seems to be a more advanced print utility. (HP Print View Software is a suite of tools that can help you produce professional-quality marketing material by using your own HP Printers.)

Try both and see if you regain control of the printer, then report back.

bobafetthotmail, no luck on either of the links ,my printer is a HP Deskjet 5550. HP on the wizard says there is nothing wrong with my Printer or scanner, Windows says that both are working OK ! and I do have the correct drivers.
PC

delete the current device drivers from device manager and install them again.

Sir, Done has requested,still no luck but found out that I have no toolbox for HP but an addided advantage of a TOOLBOX WORKAROUND 'what a load of POO.' I suppose this is Hp's idea to encourage me to buy another HP Product NO CHANCE
It looks like the printer is ready for the bin.
LINK BELOW for explanation.

The Driver for Your Product Is Included in the Windows 7 Operating System HP Deskjet 5552 Color Inkjet Printer | HP® Support

Ah, not that surprising from HP. They force you to use crappy generic drivers and call it a "feature". There is another thing you can try before binning the device though.

You can try installing the XP or Vista drivers they provide and toolbox (especially the ones for Vista) in compatibility mode, and while it's a hackish way it works fine for quite a few things (how do you think I installed video drivers for the AGP video card you can see in my specs in Windows 7? Or even my Epson DX4800's scanner.) it's better than letting them win.

Hi , I do not know if I have the bottle to attempt this for I am a bit of a novice on this contraption. (72) That's why I am in this predicament.

That old printer seems to have no drivers newer than for XP. Those date from 2003.

I guess that the drivers supplied to Microsoft by manufacturers vary. I'm using the drivers in Windows for my old Brother HL-5150D, and I'm satisfied with them.

Yes it is an old printer as such but the fact that the head in in the cartridge used to be of some importance, but price wise not now. I have an EPSON SX400 remote that I use just as a copier, but the noise it makes when working is beyond believe. For some reason I do not mind "Old Things" but now I have forgotten WHY.

It's easy, download XP drivers and toolsbox for that printer from HP, then install them in compatiblity mode. (<-- instructions on how to do that)

The worst that can happen is that it does not work.

So what? It's a printer, not a starship. More often than not they only thing they "update" in drivers for lower devices PCI like network cards and printers is the Windows version checking.