Windows 7: Win7 won't detect Epson printer, options unavailable

I just upgraded to Windows 7 and am having quite a time getting my Epson Stylus Photo 1280 functioning properly. I can get it to print if I let Windows Update detect the printer and automatically install the software, but when I do, I am missing a couple things that used to work just fine, namely Ink Level display (on first page of printer properties) and Double-sided Printing on the 3rd tab. Both of these are grayed out/not available. If I had the option to print even or odd pages only, I could duplex print manually, but I don't even have that option (seems strange ).

Also, so far I have been only able to get my printer to work when hooked up via the usb cable, but I would like to be able to use the serial cable to free up one of my usb ports. However, when I try to install the software with the serial connected, Windows doesn't detect/see the printer.

Is there something I can do to 1) get my double-sided printing (et al) back, and 2) be able to use my printer via the serial cable?

Alternately I have tried using the driver for XP / 2000 from here (v5.2cA) and running in compatibility mode as administrator. But it only works with the usb, will not detect the printer if it is hooked up via the serial cable.

Double-sided printing and ink level monitor are the most important with ability to print via the serial close behind.

Thanks

Go to web site and download driver from there. Windows update is known not to provide the most current driver.

As Rich stated.. In most cases, if a 7 driver is not available, a Vista driver will work just fine.. Here is a link I found for your printer's drivers..

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/s...atform=Windows

It does not look like they put out a Vista driver on closer inspection, which means Epson may no longer be supporting that Printer. The fact that Windows update was able to install a driver that allows your printer to work at all, marks the diligence microsoft has gone through with this latest release..

You may try google to try and locate a more compatible driver. Barring that, not sure what else you can do..

I was able to determine that the inability to print odd/even was not related to my print driver...I was trying to print from Publisher and that option isn't available. So my somewhat clunky, but workable, "solution" to that problem is to export to .pdf and then print all odds, flip the pages, and print all evens. I did get a response from Epson stating that it is "not a full Epson driver but a generic driver that Windows assigns to the 1280. This driver will allow you to print but is very basic in its features including the ink levels and its print settings."

I've searched and searched for a solution, but I may have to accept that printing to my Epson will never be the same again and just make the best of things, get on with my life . I'll be fine, was just kinda hoping...

Thanks for trying to help!

Yeah.. It is really up to companies how long they want to support their products, not necessarily Microsoft. They intentionally designed Windows 7 around the Vista Kernel so that for the most part, companies will not have to re-write a bunch of drivers to make their hardware work with this coming release. At the same time they introduced device stage, which will allow companies to create a new interface to their devices and applications that go with it within Windows 7. It is yet to be seen how many companies jump on board with that, but I am happy to say that it works well with my HP Printer..

How long a company will support their hardware with driver releases, should be a factor in the initial purchase. Again, Microsoft put a lot of effort into making the driver troubles that people experienced with previous OS releases, not nearly as painful in this release. The fact that you can now click on Windows Update, and find a driver that will allow you to print with a product that the manufacturer no longer supports, is a huge pro in my opinion.. Good Luck!!

I have Epson Stylus C88+ printer. I'm not sure about your model but on this one, the driver cannot be downloaded. It's "in the box" and hot loads when you plug it into a Vista or XP machine. I have it connected to my Vista machine and shared over the network. Everything works ok but I cannot do it the other way around. It won't share over the Lan if the PC it is connected to is running 7. Another "solution" may be connecting it to some box that shares printers, if the box is Vista/XP compatible. I haven't done that myself so I don't know how much that stuff costs.