Windows 7: New Computer - Problem with the printer

I've just replaced my old computer with a new one. It's a Dell running Windows 7 home premium. I've pretty well gotten everything to work OK except that the printer, an HP 1200, is not co-operating. It is printing everything using about 1/6 of the sheet of paper - really really small! Even the "test Page" comes out small. I've tried downloading new printer drivers and that made no difference. Can this be fixed or do I need to get a "Windows 7 compatible" printer? Any help at all will be greatly appreciated.

This looks like a driver problem. If they have no Windows 7 driver, try a Vista driver (if available).

Which "HP 1200"? there's a LaserJet 1200, and a Deskjet 1200.

Which drivers did you try?

There are drivers at Windows Update for the LaserJet 1200, but not (I think) for the DeskJet.

The printer is not the laserjet. I've been to the HP web site and downloaded the latest driver for my printer - HP 1200/windows7 64bit. It still is not working right. I am beginning to realize that I'm not the only one with "printer problems" after switching to "7". If a new printer solves it, so be it. ONLY I'm going to be sure to ask around before I buy anything! Does anyone have a printer that does work with 7 ?

I can recall a similar "small print" issue many years ago on an HP inkjet, but I can't recall how I resolved it.

Are you personally satisfied that the driver made available during the Windows install (as opposed to a driver from HP directly) will not work?

Re other brands:

I bought the cheapest Brother laser printer for $60. Left it connected during the install. Driver from Windows install works perfectly. Printer worked perfectly simply by being turned on--no configuration, etc. And I got out of the inkjet cartridge scam.

I'm not positive about the driver. Tried the internal update and the HP driver web site but it made no difference.
Thanks for your input on the Brother Laser - i'll sure keep it in mind.

Let me ask again - what model is it? "HP 1200" isn't really a model.

It sounds like the drivers aren't the correct ones. I've seen a similar problem to yours when I installed drivers for a printer different than the one they were intended for. (Haven't done that in nearly 10 years.)

My printers are a Brother HL-5150D (monochrome laser) and HP Photosmart 8250. Neither has a full software package from its manufacturer for Windows 7, but both have drivers available from Windows Update that support all of the features I need. That includes the hardware duplexer (for 2 sided printing) on the Brother. Neither machine is new.

Hi bobkn - The printer is: HP PSC 1210v. in the back of the manual it says (Q1662a) One suggestion was to "map the printer manually". I wouldn't have a clue about how to do that. I just wonder if there isn't some kind of "setting" or something somewhere that I overlooked (or ignored). This printer works fine with the old computer which is an XP.

Thanks for the information. I hadn't considered all-in-ones, rather than plain printers.

Here is what HP offers:

Installing the Product with the USB Cable and Using the Windows Update Driver or the Driver Located in the Windows 7 Operating System HP PSC 1210v All-in-One Printer - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

(There are no fully-featured drivers available for download, but Windows 7 is supposed to include drivers. You may need to get them from Windows Update.)

It looks like HP hasn't released a full package for the PSC 1210v since 2004. They didn't have one for Vista (2007).

I have no idea why Windows didn't detect the printer and install appropriate drivers. What does it show up as in "Devices and Printers"? Maybe you need to disconnect it, uninstall the printer from Devices and Printers, and connect it again.

Note that Microsoft doesn't generally produce drivers for third-party hardware. Maybe they should pressure manufacturers (like HP) to support older peripherals, but it doesn't appera that they do. Similar things happened when Windows XP was released - it needed different drivers than the preceding consumer OSes (95, 96, 98se, ME).

Hi Bobkn. I did as you suggested. I also disconnected the power to the printer. That worked just fine. Apparently, the Win XP drivers were overriding the new drivers (or not letting the Win 7 driver load) Anyway, thanks to you for the help and to all the others who responded. I couldn't have done it without you-all!